Indonesian Environmental Lawyers Monitor Lawsuit Against Pulp Company

Environmental lawyers are closely observing a lawsuit intervention filed by WALHI North Sumatra against PT Toba Pulp Lestari (PT TPL) at the Medan District Court. The intervention, registered on May 20, 2026, aims to ensure comprehensive environmental restoration following ecological disasters in November-December 2025. These disasters significantly affected the Batangtoru and Sibundong river basins in North Sumatra.

The presence of the Environmental Lawyers Network (JPL) provides support to WALHI North Sumatra, enabling direct monitoring and independent evaluation of the trial proceedings. This case is considered the largest environmental lawsuit in North Sumatra. JPL comprises environmental lawyers from various member organizations of WALHI North Sumatra, including KALi Sumut, Repala Indonesia, and Elsaka.

Crucial aspects of WALHI's intervention include the discovery of 1,261.5 hectares of open land within PT TPL's former concession in North Tapanuli Regency, suspected of exacerbating the Batangtoru river basin floods. Additionally, 1,607 hectares of open land in Humbanghasundutan and North Tapanuli regencies, specifically in the Aekraja Sector, have been exposed since October 2024 and are linked to the Sibundong river basin disaster.

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The presence of JPL provides support to WALHI North Sumatra, enabling direct monitoring and independent evaluation of the trial proceedings of the largest environmental case in North Sumatra.

The lawsuit demands Rp 2.62 trillion for environmental restoration. This includes Rp 1.39 trillion for Sumatran orangutan habitats, Rp 1.08 trillion for Sumatran tiger corridors, and Rp 142.3 billion for the 1,607 hectares of open land. Restoration components encompass water provision, erosion control, soil formation, nutrient cycling, waste decomposition, biodiversity recovery, genetic resources, and carbon sequestration.

North Sumatra faces escalating environmental issues like deforestation, pollution, illegal mining, and agrarian conflicts. Data from the Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) in 2023 reported 33 agrarian conflicts affecting over 11,000 families across 34,090 hectares. WALHI North Sumatra documented 18 cases of natural resource conflicts spanning 18,141 hectares, primarily in forest areas and palm oil plantations. Recent flash floods and landslides in Central Tapanuli Regency further underscore the critical state of the region's forests.

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Restoration components include water provision, erosion control, soil formation, nutrient cycling, waste decomposition, biodiversity recovery, genetic resources, and carbon sequestration.