Why Indonesia is recruiting 70,000 forest rangers
Indonesia plans to recruit 70,000 forest rangers in a sweeping expansion of its environmental enforcement force, as authorities grapple with large-scale forest crime and one of the world’s biggest wildlife trafficking markets.
This proposal, announced this month by the Forestry Ministry, would increase the number of rangers from 4,800 to 70,000. Such a scale would be crucial to protect the country’s 125 million hectares of forest.
At present, each ranger is responsible for around 25,000 hectares, far above the ministry’s target ratio of one ranger per 2,500 hectares.
Rangers are civil servants tasked with patrolling protected areas, preventing illegal logging and encroachment, and enforcing conservation laws.
Between January and October 2025, the ministry said it prosecuted 34 suspects in 21 illegal logging cases, raided 13 illegal mining sites and foiled 36 attempts to smuggle protected wildlife.
Wildlife poaching problem
Indonesia is widely described as a major hub for wildlife trafficking, reflecting its vast biodiversity. It is considered one of the world’s richest countries in terms of species diversity, making it both a source and a target for organised wildlife crime.
Interpol estimates the global illegal wildlife trade is worth about $20 billion, with Indonesia acting as a source, transit point and destination. Poachers operate on islands including Java, Sumatra and Borneo, capturing species ranging from birds and otters to critically endangered rhinos.
Many of these animals are sold domestically, while others are trafficked across Asia through organised networks.
Recent court rulings have highlighted the scale of the threat. For instance, in 2025, Indonesian judges handed down prison terms of up to 12 years in a case linked to the killing of between 18 and 26 Javan rhinos over five years.
Despite the scale of the problem, the recruitment drive has drawn criticism. Some wildlife and environment researchers have argued that increasing ranger numbers alone will not address deeper structural issues.
Research indicates that 55.3 million hectares of forest and other land have been allocated to legal concessions, where oversight can be weak. Analysts say much forest degradation occurs within these licensed areas, raising questions over whether enforcement efforts will also target large-scale business operations.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
