After The Sumatra Flood, Minister Of Transportation Promises To Clean Up Illegal Implementation, Prepares 'Total Rest' Forest Governance

Heavy equipment dredges mud material at a flood-affected point in West Sumatra. BETWEEN BNPB'S ANTARA/HO-Humas

Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Raja Juli Antoni said the government would evaluate the total management of forestry development after the flood and landslide disaster that hit a number of areas in Sumatra.

He emphasized that law enforcement will be strengthened, including against the practice of illegal logging or illegal logging.

"Reflecting on the occurrence of floods and landslides, we will take corrective steps. First, evaluate the management of forestry development by realizing the digitization of one map of Indonesian forestry. God willing, December or no later than January will be completed," said Raja Juli in a meeting with Commission IV of the DPR at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Thursday, December 4.

He said the evaluation also included rationalization of Forest Utilization Business Licensing (PBPH) and moratorium on new permits for the use of forest plants and natural forests. In addition, the Ministry of Law and Forestry accelerates the recognition of customary forest rights covering an area of 1.4 million hectares and strengthens law enforcement.

"Especially illegal logging, additional forestry police personnel, as well as harmonization and integration of spatial planning through inter-ministerial and institutional bodies," he said.

Raja Juli added that the second step was to accelerate the maturation of the concept of revising Law Number 41 of 1999 in order to strengthen the relationship between the central and regional governments in forest management.

"Third, encourage the determination of a draft government regulation on land and water conservation to synergize land management by parties in maintaining the sustainability of its function," he said.

The fourth step is to encourage the establishment of a watershed management task force (DAS) across ministries and institutions, as well as develop a flood mitigation monitoring application system based on the early warning system in the watershed area. Including digitizing monitoring of the fulfillment of the obligation to utilize forest areas.

"Finally, optimizing the sources of financing for forest and land rehabilitation (RHL) for critical land handling," said Raja Juli.