Jokowi Gives 11 Social Forestry Decrees To The Papua Provincial Government, 1,526 Families Receive Their Benefits

President Jokowi's virtual handover of 11 Social Forestry Decrees to the Jayapura indigenous people in Sentani, Papua, Wednesday (22/2) (ANTARA/Ardiles Leloltery)

PAPUA - President Joko Widodo handed over 11 Decree (SK) of Social Forestry and SK Tanah Obyek Reform Agrarian (TORA) to the Papua Provincial Government (Pemprov).

The Daily Executive of the Regional Secretary of Papua Province, Derek Hegemur, said that as many as 11 Social Forestry Decrees were handed over to 5 village institutions, 1 forest farmer group and 5 customary forest status determinations to indigenous law communities.

"Where it is divided into one village forest decree and one community forest decree in Boven Digoel Regency, five customary forest decrees in Jayapura Regency and four village forest decrees in Sarmi Regency which will bring benefits to 1,526 families (KK)," he said in Sentani, Papua, Wednesday, February 22, quoted by Antara.

According to Hegemur, by handing over the Social Forestry Decree and TORA has proven that the government is consistent and gives a new hope to indigenous peoples in the region.

"We hope that indigenous peoples can manage land that already has maximum legal status," he said.

He explained, thus his party asked the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) to help the community to provide assistance so that President Joko Widodo's expectations could be realized.

"So that land that has legal status is not left alone but can be managed so that it can provide added value for the community," he said.

He added that his party also hopes that the delivery of Social Forestry Decrees and customary forests in Papua Province will trigger the acceleration of the equitable process for access to community governance to land and forest resources in each region.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) of the Ministry of Environment (KLHK) Suharyono said, with the provision of Social Forestry Decrees and customary forests and SK TORA to indigenous peoples, the benefits could be maximized.

"Especially in encouraging economic growth in Papua, of course, it is like the message of the President and the Minister of Environment and Forestry to be able to achieve maximum benefits so that every UPT can provide maximum assistance as well," he said.

For information, President Jokowi handed over virtual Social Forestry and TORA decrees in 17 provinces in Indonesia directly from the location of the State Capital (IKN) of the Archipelago, East Kalimantan (Kaltim) on Wednesday, February 22.