Maros — The Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, Raja Juli Antoni, conducted an official visit to the Bantimurung–Bulusaraung National Park (TN Babul) in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday, 28 January 2026. The visit was accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Forestry and the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Hasanuddin University (Unhas), as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the government and academic institutions in managing conservation areas.
Also attending the visit were representatives of the regional government, including the Regent of Maros and the Regent of Pangkajene and Islands (Pangkep), the Head of the Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation Agency (KSDAE), the Head of the Ministry of Forestry’s Technical Implementation Unit managing Bantimurung–Bulusaraung National Park, as well as other relevant government officials. Conservation cadres, SAR teams, and members of the local community were also present.
During the visit, the Minister of Forestry reviewed several key attractions within the national park, including the Bantimurung waterfall area and the Batu Cave. This field inspection aimed to observe firsthand the natural potential of the Bantimurung–Bulusaraung area while ensuring that nature-based tourism management remains aligned with environmental conservation and biodiversity protection principles.
The visit was also intended to strengthen commitments to conservation, express appreciation for the work of SAR teams and conservation cadres, and reaffirm the importance of cross-sector collaboration in protecting karst ecosystems and biodiversity. The field review served as part of broader efforts to ensure the ecological sustainability of conservation areas in South Sulawesi.
In his remarks, Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni emphasized that collaboration is the key to sustainable forest management. “Collaboration is essential in achieving sustainable forest management. The government, academics, local communities, and all stakeholders must work together to safeguard conservation areas, particularly karst landscapes with high ecological value,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Hasanuddin University, Prof. Dr. Ir. A. Mujetahid M., S.Hut., M.P., IPU., in a direct interview, expressed his appreciation for the Minister’s visit. “We highly appreciate the visit of the Minister of Forestry as a clear demonstration of commitment to the conservation of butterflies and other endemic wildlife in this area. The Minister also highlighted the importance of protecting and maintaining the Bulusaraung karst landscape to ensure ecosystem sustainability,” he said.
