Legal Literacy - Activity pine resin tapping which has been going on for years in the Gunung Ciremai National Park (TNGC) area, has once again become a serious public concern. This practice of utilizing forest products, which runs without legal certainty, is considered to not only potentially disrupt the balance of the ecosystem but also indicate the weakness of the state's supervisory function in strategic conservation areas.
TNGC is a national conservation area that has very high ecological value. Apart from functioning as a fortress of biodiversity in the eastern region of West Java, this area is also the main buffer for the upstream of the River Basin (DAS) which supports the water needs and lives of millions of residents in Kuningan, Cirebon and Majalengka Regencies. With this strategic function, every form of utilization activity must be subject to strict regulations and the precautionary principle.
Administratively, the TNGC area stretches across three regencies, namely Kuningan, Majalengka, and a small part of Cirebon. This condition requires clear zoning-based governance, layered supervision and full compliance with forestry laws and regulations. However, the reality on the ground shows that there are structured economic activities that run without a formal licensing basis.
In the Majalengka Regency area, tapping activities pine resin have been identified as taking place in the Padaherang Block, within the working area of the National Park Management Section (SPTN) Region II Majalengka under the Gunung Ciremai National Park (BTNGC). This activity is carried out by the Mekar Raharja Forest Farmers Group (KTH) chaired by Sanukri, without holding official permits for utilizing forest products in the national park area.
The scale of this tapping activity is considered significant. According to local residents, during the dry season, pine resin production can reach around 12 tons in a single harvest, while during the rainy season, the volume decreases by almost half. This data indicates a sustainable economic activity with high commercial value.
However, residents claim they have never received official explanations regarding the legal status of the activity, standard operating procedures (SOP), potential ecological impacts, or environmental monitoring mechanisms. In fact, the tapping activity takes place in the traditional zone of the national park, which in principle remains under full state control.
When confirmed, the SPTN Region II Majalengka, through the Section Head, Halu Oleo, in his official capacity, acknowledged that there are currently no official permits for utilizing non-timber forest products (HHBK) in the TNGC area. This acknowledgment confirms that the tapping activity taking place in the field does not have a legitimate legal basis.
The management also stated that the activity has been structurally known up to the central level, citing the incomplete administrative process of licensing. This condition raises serious questions regarding the consistency of law enforcement and the effectiveness of monitoring functions in the national park area.
In terms of guidance, the BTNGC is known to cooperate with the Paguyuban KTH Silihwangi Majakuning, which oversees the Majalengka and Kuningan Regency areas. However, this guidance scheme is considered not to have addressed fundamental issues, particularly regarding the legality of activities and monitoring mechanisms for utilizing forest products in conservation areas.
From an economic perspective, residents also question the transparency of the flow of funds from pine resin tapping. The commodity is said to be priced at around Rp. 5,500 per kilogram, with information that Rp. 500 per kilogram is deducted for the village. Until now, the management and realization mechanisms of these funds have never been disclosed to the public.
This ambiguity raises concerns about potential abuse of authority, illegal levies, or conflicts of interest that could harm the community and the state. Without official permits, it is certain that there are no recorded non-tax state revenues (PNBP) from the activity of utilizing forest products.
An environmental observer assesses that allowing activities without permits in conservation areas sets a bad precedent for forest protection efforts. According to him, weak law enforcement in national park areas has the potential to cause long-term ecological impacts that are difficult to restore.
Regulatorily, Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry and Law Number 18 of 2013 explicitly prohibit the collection of forest products without a permit, with the threat of severe criminal penalties and fines. In addition, Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number 8 of 2021 affirms that non-timber forest product utilization schemes do not apply in conservation forest areas, including national parks.
In response to this condition, the Chairman of Commission III of the Majalengka Regency DPRD (Regional People's Representative Assembly), H. Iing Misbahuddin, S.M., expressed deep concern. He assessed that unauthorized economic activity in conservation areas reflects the weakness of state control.
“If large-scale activities can proceed without official permits, then it is not only the ecosystem that is at stake, but also the authority of the state,” he asserted.
He added that any forest products that leave without a legal basis have the potential to cause losses to the state and the region.
“Without a permit, there is no recording and no transparency. This is prone to harming the public,” he added.
H. Iing Misbahuddin also reminded that local communities should not be the ones bearing the legal risks in the future due to weak governance. According to him, the state must be present to provide clear, fair, and environmentally-oriented legal certainty.
The pine resin tapping case in the TNGC (Gunung Ciremai National Park) area is now a serious test for the consistency of conservation area management. Strict law enforcement, continuous supervision, and transparent governance are considered urgent to ensure the preservation of the ecosystem and the sustainability of the ecological function of Gunung Ciremai National Park.
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