DPKLTS Chairman Urges Accelerated Recovery of the West Java Ecosystem

Chairman of the Tatar Sunda Forestry and Environment Monitoring Council (DPKLTS), M Taufan Suranto/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - Environmental damage in West Java is increasingly worrying as critical land in a number of areas expands. The condition of bare land and minimal vegetation is visible in the Pangalengan, Cisanti, Cikembang, Puncak Gede, to the West Bandung area and Bandung Regency.

The uncontrolled land function and the weak rehabilitation of forests are considered to accelerate the degradation of the area, as well as increase the threat of landslides, floods, and droughts in various areas.

The pressure on the ecosystem is most felt in the Bandung Raya area which is located between the northern and southern regions. In the North Bandung area, property development and tourist destinations change the landscape that previously served as a water catchment area.

Meanwhile, in the southern region, land use activities that do not pay attention to environmental carrying capacity have the potential to increase the risk of hydrometeorological disasters.

The Chairman of the Tatar Sunda Forestry and Environment Monitoring Council (DPKLTS), M Taufan Suranto, assessed that the situation needed to be responded to with a quick and targeted recovery step.

He expressed support for the acceleration of forest and land rehabilitation carried out by the government, especially through tree planting in landslide-prone areas, afforestation in river basins, and community involvement in maintaining environmental sustainability.

"The importance of monitoring land function changes and strengthening collaboration between the government, business, and society is not only to restore the ecosystem, but also to maintain water availability, reduce the potential for disasters, and support sustainable development in West Java," said Taufan Suranto in a written statement received, Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

Naufan argues that the upstream area needs to be maintained so that water sources in West Java continue.

"The recovery of the upstream area has a strategic impact on the sustainability of the Citarum River Basin (DAS) which is an important water source for West Java." he continued.