Clearing Thousands Of Hectares For IKN Food Support, WALHI Reminds Central Sulawesi Provincial Government Not To Destroy Forests

Teams from several ministries reviewed the integrated food development plan, as well as directly inspected the food development area (Via ANTARA)

PALU - The Center for the Environment (Walhi) of Central Sulawesi asked the government that the clearing of land in Donggala Regency which is intended to support the new national capital (IKN) in East Kalimantan does not damage the forest environment.

"In the national food supply area, there is a buffer zone as a buffer zone for the forest core that must be preserved and maintained so that it continues to function properly," explained the Director of Walhi Central Sulawesi Sunardi Katili in Palu, Antara, Friday, June 17.

Sunardi added that the Central Sulawesi provincial government has prepared 30,000 hectares of land in Sindue District and Sindue Tobata District, Donggala Regency.

In addition, the Central Sulawesi provincial government also opened an area of 1,123.59 hectares in Talaga Village, Dampelas District, Donggala Regency as stated in the Central Sulawesi Governor's decision number 504/117.1/DBMPR-G.ST/2022 dated March 28, 2022, stipulating Talaga Village as a strategic area. national food.

"The opening of the area is also expected to provide economic benefits for the community around the area," said Sunardi.

Meanwhile, Assistant for Economics and Development Rudy Dewanto said the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment has assigned a team from several ministries to review the integrated food development plan, as well as to directly review the food development area in Central Sulawesi.

"In order to finalize Central Sulawesi into a strategic national food area, a technical team was assigned to conduct a study to finalize this plan," said Rudy.

According to Rudy, the team has visited Dampelas and Sirenja, Donggala Regency and areas in Sigi Regency. The visit was also in terms of preserving the forest environment and improving the community's economy.

"The Governor of Central Sulawesi hopes that in September 2022, Indonesian President Joko Widodo will carry out the first planting in a strategic area for national food development," he explained.