Indonesia launches new policies to fund conservation and protect elephants

Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to protect its natural heritage, with President Prabowo Subianto issuing two significant conservation policies. These directives follow a meeting between President Subianto and King Charles III in London and subsequent discussions among deputy ministers in Jakarta.

The first policy, Presidential Decree No. 8/2026, established the National Park Management Financing Innovation Task Force. This task force, headed by Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the President's Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change and Prabowo's younger brother, is charged with identifying and securing new funding streams for conservation, landscape management, and community empowerment programs around national parks.

“

The meeting followed up on the President’s directives.

The second policy, Presidential Instruction No. 8/2026, specifically targets the protection of endangered elephant populations. It mandates nine ministers, the National Police Chief, and regional authorities in Sumatra and North Kalimantan to safeguard the habitats and dwindling numbers of Sumatran and Bornean elephants. This instruction aims to address the growing human-wildlife conflict and the threats these species face.

These initiatives underscore a renewed focus on environmental protection within the Indonesian government. The creation of dedicated task forces and clear instructions to various government bodies signal a commitment to tackling critical conservation challenges, including securing sustainable financing and implementing direct protective measures for vulnerable wildlife.

“

The directive Amran referred to was Prabowo’s order for his aides to immediately prepare two new conservation policies.