History

The history of Indonesian Wildlife and Jungle Ranger reflects a centuries-long evolution of forest protection, transitioning from traditional communal guarding to a structured paramilitary civil service.

1.   Pre-Colonial and Early Safeguarding

Forest protection in the Indonesian archipelago dates back to ancient kingdoms.

• 1395: The Malang Inscription from the Majapahit era records a royal command for 11 villages to protect the slopes of Mount Lejar from fire to safeguard water resources.

• Traditional Communities: Indigenous groups like the Orang Rimba in Jambi have historically protected forests based on unwritten customary laws and sacred beliefs.

2.       Colonial Era (The "Boswoster" Roots)

Formalized forest policing began during the Dutch colonial period to secure timber and land for the state.

• 1880: The colonial administration established an organization called Boswoster (Forest Guards) to supervise forest boundaries and prevent unauthorized access.

• 1897: The Forest Regulation (Reglemen Hutan) was issued, providing a legal basis for forest policing and investigations to protect state rights.

• 1927: The Bosordonantie Java & Madura further clarified the role of forest officials, specifically the Mantri Polisi Kehutanan, in conducting police tasks for state forests.

3.       Post-Independence and the Modern Indonesian Wildlife and Jungle Ranger

Following independence, the organization underwent several name changes and institutional shifts.

• 1966: Modern forest policing was revitalized with the formation of the Polisi Chusus Kehutanan (PCK) in Central Java to address timber theft in teak forests.

• December 21, 1966: The first batch of 147 PCK officers was inaugurated. This date is now celebrated as the anniversary (HUT) of Polhut.

• Name Changes: The institution was known as Jaga Wana in 1988 before officially becoming Polisi Kehutanan (Polhut) in 1999.

• 2005: The Ministry established SPORC (Satuan Polhut Reaksi Cepat), a specialized rapid response unit with 16 brigades nationwide to tackle high-intensity crimes like illegal logging and wildlife trafficking.

4.       Current Status

Today, The Indonesian Wildlife and Jungle Ranger operates as a functional civil servant position under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, though they receive basic police training from the Indonesian National Police.