Minister Of Transportation: Disasters In Sumatra Backpoint For Improvement Of Forest Governance

JAKARTA - Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni said that floods and landslides that occurred in a number of Sumatra areas must be a turning point to improve forest and environmental governance in Indonesia.

In a statement as confirmed from Jakarta, Saturday, the Minister of Transportation Raja Juli Antoni expressed his deep sorrow for the floods and landslides that occurred in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

He considered that the public's attention, which is now focused on the disaster, was an important momentum to introspect. According to him, this incident shows that there is a fundamental error in environmental management.

"We are gaining good momentum precisely because all eyes see, all ears hear, all of us feel what is happening. Hopefully, it will not spread to other regions," said King Antoni.

This is also in line with President Prabowo Subianto's statement regarding uncontrolled illegal logging to contribute greatly to disasters.

"So on the one hand, we say deep sorrow, but this is also a good momentum, we are evaluating the policy, because the pendulum is economic and ecological, it tends to the economy, it must be drawn into the middle again, the proof is real for our brothers and sisters. That's the fact we feel," he added.

During a visit to Riau today, Minister of Forestry Raja Antoni stated that the government did not only stop at evaluation, but immediately took concrete steps. One of them is in Kuantan Singingi, he submitted a Decree (SK) of the Traditional Forest as a form of strengthening the rights of indigenous peoples.

"The indigenous people have been eliminated, even though they are the group that is most capable of protecting the forest. This legalization gives them room to contribute," he explained.

Minister of Forestry Raja Antoni also visited Tesso Nilo National Park by continuing to restore to ensure the habitat of Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) such as Domang and his family is not disturbed. He ensured that the settlement steps taken in Riau would also be implemented in other affected areas.

"My arrival for two days to Riau is an example of what we are doing elsewhere, including in West Sumatra we evaluate in North Sumatra, Aceh and other areas," he said.

Raja Juli menegaskan bahwa pemerintah berkomitmen memperbaiki pengelolaan hutan secara menyeluruh sebagai respons atas bencana yang terjadi.