Forestry Thematic Geospatial Information Governance: PERMEN 2/2026
Peraturan Menteri Nomor 2 Tahun 2026 tentang Penyelenggaraan Informasi Geospasial Tematik Kehutanan (Minister of Forestry Regulation No. 2 of 2026 on the Governance of Thematic Geospatial Information for Forestry), cited here as PERMEN 2/2026.
What the Regulation Covers
PERMEN 2/2026 establishes the framework for managing thematic geospatial information within Indonesia's forestry sector. The regulation governs how spatial data relating to forest resources, forest area boundaries, and other forestry-related geographic features is produced, managed, and shared across the Ministry of Forestry and with external users. It sets out the institutional roles, technical standards, human resource requirements, and planning mechanisms for the forestry thematic geospatial information system.
The regulation defines several layers of geospatial information that form the backbone of the system. Informasi Geospasial Dasar (IGD, or Basic Geospatial Information) covers directly observable or measurable physical features of the earth's surface that remain relatively stable over time — features such as coastlines, rivers, and elevation contours. Informasi Geospasial Tematik (IGT, or Thematic Geospatial Information) builds on IGD by adding one or more thematic layers specific to forestry, such as forest cover, land use classifications, or conservation area boundaries. Data that has been processed into usable information is termed Informasi Geospasial (IG), distinct from raw Data Geospasial (DG), which refers to unprocessed geographic location data, dimensions, and characteristics of natural or man-made objects (Pasal 1).
The regulation also defines the networked infrastructure through which geospatial information flows. The Jaringan Informasi Geospasial Nasional (JIG Nasional, or National Geospatial Information Network) provides a nationwide system for collaborative, orderly, measured, integrated, and sustainable geospatial information management. Within the Ministry, the Jaringan Informasi Geospasial Kementerian Kehutanan (JIG Kementerian, or Ministry Geospatial Information Network) operates as a ministry-level counterpart, ensuring geospatial data flows within the forestry administration are consistent with national standards (Pasal 1).
Human Resources Requirements
PERMEN 2/2026 sets out specific human resource requirements for personnel involved in forestry thematic geospatial information governance. The regulation requires that human resources possess competencies matched to their roles and be available in adequate numbers. Required competencies span multiple disciplines: forestry, earth sciences (kebumian), information technology, system security, and other fields as operational needs dictate (Pasal 14 ayat 1–2).
Every entity that operates forestry thematic geospatial information systems is obligated to implement human resource capacity building. The regulation specifies two approved methods: formal training (pelatihan) and technical guidance (bimbingan teknis), which may be used individually or in combination (Pasal 14 ayat 3–4). These provisions are designed to ensure that personnel maintaining the geospatial information infrastructure remain current with evolving technical standards and technologies.
How Thematic Geospatial Information Is Produced
The production of forestry thematic geospatial information must always reference Basic Geospatial Information (IGD) as its foundation. Pasal 15 ayat 1 of PERMEN 2/2026 establishes IGD as the mandatory reference layer for all thematic geospatial information activities in the forestry sector. This ensures alignment between forestry-specific spatial data and the national geodetic framework.
The regulation anticipates situations where suitable IGD may not yet exist for a given area. In such cases, data producers (produsen DG) and geospatial data custodians (walidata Geospasial) have two permitted options. First, they may use the most appropriate IGD previously produced for similar purposes. Second, they may enter into a cooperation agreement with the non-ministerial government agency responsible for national geospatial information — Indonesia's national mapping authority — to jointly create the needed IGD. Any cooperation under this second option must be for the Ministry's own purposes and must follow the technical standards and specifications established by that national geospatial agency (Pasal 15 ayat 2–3).
Planning and Action Plan Cycle
The regulation introduces a structured planning mechanism for forestry thematic geospatial information. DG producers and geospatial data custodians are required to prepare an action plan (rencana aksi) for implementing thematic geospatial information governance (Pasal 16 ayat 1). This action plan is not developed in isolation: it must align with the national master plan for geospatial information governance, prepared by the non-ministerial government agency charged with national geospatial affairs (Pasal 16 ayat 2).
The action plan is formulated through the Ministry's geospatial data forum (forum data Geospasial Kementerian), an internal coordinating body that brings together the relevant units within the Ministry to agree on priorities, resource allocation, and technical approaches (Pasal 16 ayat 3).
Once formulated, the action plan is formally adopted by the Minister of Forestry for a fixed term of five years. The regulation further requires that implementation of the action plan undergo monitoring and evaluation on an annual basis, conducted through the same Ministry geospatial data forum (Pasal 17). This annual review cycle creates a feedback mechanism through which the Ministry can assess progress, identify obstacles, and adjust implementation strategies without waiting for the full five-year plan period to expire.
Scope and Who It Applies To
PERMEN 2/2026 applies throughout the Ministry of Forestry and its subordinate units. The regulation identifies several institutional actors with defined roles. The Minister of Forestry holds ultimate authority over the governance framework, including formal adoption of the five-year action plan. The Secretary General (Sekretaris Jenderal) coordinates implementation, provides administrative support, and oversees organizational units within the Ministry. The Director General with responsibility for forest area consolidation (pemantapan kawasan hutan) formulates and executes policies in that domain. Technical implementing units (Unit Pelaksana Teknis, UPT) carry out operational tasks in forest area consolidation (Pasal 1).
The regulation defines users of thematic geospatial information (Pengguna IGT) broadly to include government agencies, legal entities, and individual persons who make use of forestry thematic geospatial information. The regulation also references supporting infrastructure (Infrastruktur IGT) as the facilities and infrastructure used to facilitate the governance of thematic geospatial information, and metadata as the data describing the history and characteristics of geospatial data and information products (Pasal 1).
Methodology: This memo summarises the official regulation text and is not legal advice; report corrections to contact@crpg.info.
Disclaimer
This article was AI-generated under an experimental legal-AI application. It may contain errors, inaccuracies, or hallucinations. The content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice or authoritative interpretation of regulations.
We accept no liability whatsoever for any decisions made based on this article. Readers are strongly advised to:
- Consult the official regulation text from government sources
- Seek professional legal counsel for specific matters
- Verify all information independently
This experimental AI application is designed to improve access to regulatory information, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed.