Decree of the Director General of Sustainable Forest Management Number 13 of 2026 Tightens Access to SIPUHH for Land Title Holders

Introduction

On 19 February 2026, the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management (“PHL”) issued the Decree of the Director General of Sustainable Forest Management Number 13 of 2026 on the Evaluation of the Granting of Access Rights to the Forest Products Administration Information System (“SIPUHH”) and the Non-Tax State Revenue Information System (“SIPNBP”) for Land Title Holders (“PHAT”) (“Decree 13/2026”), which took effect on that date. This regulation restructures the mechanism for granting access to forestry information systems for landowners who utilize naturally grown timber on their land. Through this regulation, the Government ensures that any use of such information systems is based on valid and accountable data.

Decree 13/2026 protects the State’s rights over forest products and ensures the legality and orderly circulation of forest products in accordance with Government Regulation Number 23 of 2021 on Forestry Administration. The Directorate General of PHL considers it necessary to mitigate risks related to potential misuse of access to information systems and to strengthen good forest governance. Accordingly, this evaluation serves as an essential instrument to address challenges in supervising timber utilization in privately owned forests so that such utilization remains aligned with protection and conservation functions.

 

Key Provisions

Mechanism and Implementing Evaluation Team

Operative Clauses Three and Four stipulate that the Head of the Provincial Forestry Office shall establish a special Team to carry out this evaluation through administrative review and/or field inspection. Based on Annex Section B.1, the Evaluation Team has a cross-agency composition consisting of:

1. Provincial Office/Forest Management Unit (KPH);
2. Sustainable Forest Management Center (BPHL);
3. Forestry Law Enforcement Agency;
4. National Land Agency (BPN) at the Provincial or Regency level; and
5. Environmental Agency.

Status of Access Rights and Obligations of PHAT

Annex Section A affirms that the granting of access rights to SIPUHH and SIPNBP does not constitute a timber utilization permit or proof of recognition of land rights, but serves solely as a facility for PHAT to fulfill obligations related to the payment of Non-Tax State Revenue (“PNBP”) and the administration of forest products. Decree 13/2026 requires PHAT who utilize naturally grown timber, namely trees that existed prior to the acquisition of land rights, to pay PNBP in accordance with the prevailing laws and regulations.

Evaluation Criteria and Indicators

Annex Section B.2 establishes three main evaluation criteria, namely certainty of land status, conformity of the timber utilization location, and potential environmental impact. The Evaluation Team shall apply the indicators set out in Annex Section B.3 to implement these three criteria, including:

1. Certainty of Land Status: The Team identifies land ownership documents, verifies their compliance with agrarian law, and conducts an analysis of land location maps.
2. Conformity of Location: The Team performs a spatial analysis of the proposed location, analyzes the Cruising Report (LHC) data, and verifies the stock of harvested logs for registered PHAT. 
3. Potential Environmental Impact: The Team analyzes the topographical conditions of the location and evaluates the conformity of timber utilization activities with environmental regulations.

Reporting and Final Recommendation

The evaluation results shall be set forth in Minutes of Evaluation Results, which shall be submitted to the Head of the Provincial Forestry Office. Furthermore, Annex Section B.4 letter c instructs the Head of the Office to forward the report to the Director of Forest Product Royalties and Administration in order to determine the final recommendation as to whether access rights to SIPUHH/SIPNBP may be granted.

 

Transitional Provisions

Operative Clause Five stipulates that this evaluation process applies not only to new applications for access rights, but also to PHAT who have previously been registered in the SIPUHH/SIPNBP system.

 

Closing

Decree 13/2026 restructures the mechanism for granting access rights to SIPUHH and SIPNBP for PHAT in order to ensure the legality of forest products and to protect the State’s revenue rights. This evaluation is conducted through administrative and field verification based on three criteria, namely certainty of land status in accordance with agrarian law, conformity of location through spatial analysis, and mitigation of environmental impacts. It is important to emphasize that access to these systems serves solely as an administrative instrument for forest product management and fulfillment of PNBP obligations, and does not constitute proof of land ownership. The provisions bind both new applicants and previously registered PHAT to ensure transparent and accountable forest governance.