Raja Juli Antoni has no formal forestry degree

Thekabarnews.com—The forestry minister, Raja Juli Antoni, built his academic career around Qur’anic studies, conflict resolution and political science rather than technical forestry.

This is according to government records and publicly available biographical information. President Prabowo Subianto appointed Raja Juli as forestry minister on October 21, 2024. 

The position places him in charge of national policies covering forest governance, conservation, social forestry and watershed rehabilitation. He handles law enforcement within Indonesia’s forest estate. The Cabinet Secretariat continues to list him as a member of the Red and White Cabinet.

The Forestry Ministry’s official profile lists three universities in Raja Juli’s educational history: IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, now UIN Jakarta. It also notes the University of Bradford in Britain and the University of Queensland in Australia.

UIN Jakarta records identify him as an alumnus of the Faculty of Ushuluddin’s Qur’anic Studies and Interpretation program. Public biographical accounts say his undergraduate thesis critically examined interpretations of jihad as holy war.

Raja Juli later studied peace and conflict-related subjects at the University of Bradford. Accounts of his academic career describe his master’s research as an examination of the Aceh conflict. His work focuses on efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement.

He subsequently completed doctoral studies at the University of Queensland’s School of Political Science and International Studies. 

His reported doctoral research focused on religion’s role in peacebuilding. For example, he used Mindanao in the Philippines and Maluku in Indonesia as case studies.

The official ministry profile does not reproduce his thesis or dissertation titles. It also lists no formal qualification specifically in forestry science, silviculture, forest conservation or forest-resource management.

Indonesian law does not require a minister’s university major to correspond directly with the ministry assigned by the president. 

The amended Law on State Ministries establishes general eligibility requirements. It does not impose a forestry degree requirement on the forestry minister.

A minister primarily leads policy, administration and political coordination. Career officials, researchers and technical directorates provide specialist expertise. 

A forestry degree is not required to prove a minister can perform the role. Performance must also be assessed through policy decisions, scientific consultation, transparency, law enforcement and measurable environmental outcomes.

Raja Juli has made public the wider social and ecological importance of forests.

Speaking at Gadjah Mada University’s Faculty of Forestry in October 2025, he said, “Forests are not merely trees but a source of life. Let us make forests a source of prosperity and sustainability for everyone,” according to a Forestry Ministry report.

His academic record may provide experience in negotiation, political institutions and conflict management—skills relevant to disputes involving forest boundaries and competing land interests. 

Indonesia’s complex forestry challenges also require the ministry to ground its decisions in credible scientific evidence and strong technical advice.

The verified record therefore supports a precise conclusion: Raja Juli Antoni does not have a publicly listed formal degree in forestry. Indonesian law does not require one for his ministerial appointment.