Jakarta, June 12 -- The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry is tightening its supervision of forest area use permit (PPKH) holders amid rising environmental concerns over mining activities on the islands of Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua.

"We must improve the business process related to supervision, especially for permits that are issued," the ministry's Director General of Law Enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho said during a discussion, which was followed online from here on Thursday.

The current high level of public awareness regarding nickel mining activities in Raja Ampat islands, which have great ecological value, is an opportunity to make improvements and ensure good governance, he added.

He informed that his ministry has collected data a...