MAJALENGKA – The practice of illegal pine resin tapping in the Mount Ciremai National Park (TNGC) area is not merely a technical violation or an administrative error. It is an ecological crime that clearly threatens environmental sustainability, damages the function of conservation forests, and has the potential to cause state losses—both economically and ecologically. More than that, this practice reflects weak law enforcement and the dangers of allowing illegal activities to persist in a systematic manner.
The Chairman of the Trustees Board of DPP ASWIN has expressed serious concern over the illegal pine resin tapping practices on Mount Ciremai.
“This is an ecological crime that must not be tolerated, especially given strong indications that the illegal pine resin tapping is being carried out massively, systematically, and with a degree of deliberate neglect,” said Aceng Syamsul Hadie, S.Sos., M.M., known by the initials ASH, Chairman of the Trustees Board of DPP ASWIN (International Journalists Association).
ASH emphasized that as a conservation area, Mount Ciremai falls under a strict protection regime. Any form of natural resource utilization within it must adhere to the precautionary principle and go through official licensing mechanisms. However, facts on the ground indicate the presence of tapping activities without a valid legal basis. The managing authority, the Mount Ciremai National Park Agency, has itself stated that formal permits in the form of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) have not yet been issued. This means that any on going tapping activities are, in essence, illegal.
From a legal perspective, ASH reminded that such actions meet the elements of a criminal offense in the field of natural resource conservation. Based on Law Number 32 of 2024, any person is prohibited from utilizing conservation areas without a permit. Violations of this provision may result in criminal sanctions, including imprisonment and substantial fines. In addition, this practice may also be prosecuted under Law Number 18 of 2013, which explicitly prohibits the utilization of forest products without permits in state forest areas.
Furthermore, if there is evidence of deliberate negligence by individuals within the TNGC authority or other relevant officials, or if there is an illicit flow of profits within this tapping network, the case could escalate into more serious criminal offenses, including allegations of maladministration and corruption. In administrative and criminal law, knowingly allowing violations to occur is not neutrality, but rather a form of negligence that can be held accountable.
“From an ecological standpoint, the impact of illegal tapping cannot be underestimated. Improper tapping methods can damage the living tissue of pine trees, accelerate vegetation death, and reduce environmental carrying capacity. In the long term, this damage may disrupt the forest’s hydrological functions, increase the risk of disasters such as landslides and droughts, and harm ecosystem balance. In other words, the losses incurred are not only local and temporary, but also systemic and intergenerational. Therefore, we have formed an investigation team to trace this criminal network and will reveal the findings based on facts in the field,” he explained.
ASH underlined that what is even more concerning is the emergence of organized activity patterns involving certain groups. This indicates that the illegal practice is no longer sporadic but has developed into a network exploiting weak supervision and policy ambiguities. If this situation is allowed to continue, the state is indirectly opening the door to the normalization of environmental crime.
Therefore, firm and uncompromising measures are required. Law enforcement must be carried out comprehensively—not only targeting perpetrators in the field but also tracing the possible involvement of other actors within the chain of illegal activities. Institutional audits of the area’s management are also crucial to ensure there is no negligence or abuse of authority.
“In the end, illegal pine resin tapping in Mount Ciremai is a real test of the state’s commitment to environmental protection. If ecological crimes like this are not dealt with seriously, what will collapse is not only the forest, but also the authority of the law itself,” he concluded.[]
Source: ASH
Editor: Editorial Team