JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Jusuf Kalla (JK) assessed that the use of usable wood that has drifted and piled up in the affected areas of flash floods in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra must refer to existing rules.
JK reminded the importance of cooperation between local governments, communities, and various related parties so that post-flood handling runs quickly, effectively, and sustainably.
"Because the wood is very valuable and the community needs wood, take it, but it must be regulated by the local government," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, December 22.
JK said this effort could be a momentum to improve environmental governance in the future. The wood, according to him, has the potential to be used for various community needs, such as building materials, furniture, chairs, and tables, depending on the condition and quality of the wood.
"Wood is a valuable commodity. So that which can still be used so that it can be given to the community to be used (as a supporting material for development) for housing, and maybe chairs, tables or whatever," said the 10th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia.
The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) said that people were allowed to use driftwood that had accumulated in areas affected by flash floods in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
This policy on the utilization of wood is in accordance with the circular issued by the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management (PHL) on December 8, 2025 regarding the Utilization of Drift Wood for Post-Flood Recovery.
This circular was signed directly by the Director General of PHL Laksmi Wijayanti, known by the Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni and Deputy Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki.
"Since December 8, we have issued a circular addressed to the three governors in the affected areas," said the Director General of Sustainable Forest Management at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Laksmi Wijayanti.
Furthermore, Laksmi emphasized that the utilization of driftwood must still comply with applicable legal provisions. The Ministry of Home Affairs ensures that all processes run in accordance with Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
