Heidi Riddle, Chair of the IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group, has described the issuance of Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 8 of 2026 on the Protection of Elephant Populations as a major milestone for elephant conservation efforts in Indonesia. She also praised the policy of Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, saying it strengthens the protection of the country’s endangered elephants.
In a statement released in Jakarta on Monday, July 13, 2026, Heidi said the policy sends a positive signal to the international elephant conservation community. According to her, elephant conservation is a challenge that requires sustained, long-term commitment from multiple stakeholders.
“The issuance of Presidential Instruction No. 8 of 2026 on the Protection of Elephant Populations marks an important milestone for elephant conservation in Indonesia and sends a very positive signal to the Asian elephant conservation community. Elephant conservation has never been an easy task,” Heidi said.
She explained that elephants are wide-ranging animals, making their conservation impossible to achieve solely through the management of protected areas. Instead, it requires cross-sector collaboration involving spatial planning, infrastructure development, plantations, agriculture, local governments, and other stakeholders.
“As animals with extensive home ranges that cross multiple administrative boundaries, the survival of elephants depends heavily on cross-sector cooperation. The whole-of-government approach reflected in this Presidential Instruction is an extremely important step,” she said.
Heidi revealed that she had the opportunity to meet directly with Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni during her recent visit to Indonesia. During the meeting, she observed the government’s strong commitment to strengthening policies aimed at protecting elephant populations.
“I expressed my appreciation to Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni and the Government of Indonesia for their leadership and commitment in introducing this important policy,” she said.
According to Heidi, implementing the Presidential Instruction will require time and consistent effort to achieve its objectives of protecting Indonesia’s elephant population. Nevertheless, she believes the policy has established a strong foundation for accelerating elephant conservation across the country.
Meanwhile, the IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group stated that it remains committed to supporting the Indonesian Government in implementing the policy. The organization will contribute by sharing experience, scientific knowledge, and the expertise of its members from elephant range countries across Asia.***
