The Remaining Rp4 Billion Reboization Fund, Paser Takes Advantages For Lati Petangis Tahura Tourism

KALTIM - The Environment Agency (DLH) of Paser Regency, East Kalimantan (Kaltim), developed natural tourism in the conservation area of the Lati Petangis Grand Forest Park (Tahura) with a budget of Rp. 4 billion.

"The budget for the development of natural tourism comes from the central government's reforestation fund," said Head of the Paser Regency DLH Achmad Safari in Tanah Grogot, East Kalimantan, quoted from Antara, Sunday, September 11.

He explained that the Rp4 billion fund was the remaining reforestation funds received from the central government of Rp21 billion.

Safari explained that the reforestation fund, which amounted to Rp. 21 billion, was used to purchase fire engines worth Rp. 17 billion, so that there was still Rp. 4 billion left.

"The remaining funds must then be used to support the development of natural tourism," he said.

He further said that initially the Ministry of Finance did not allow reforestation funds to be used for the development of Tahura tourism.

After the budget was used to buy a fire truck, the Ministry of Finance's new regulation of allowing reforestation funds could be used for tourism development in the Tahura area.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Management Division of the DLH Tahura, Teguh Haryanto, said that the Rp4 billion budget would later be used to improve facilities and infrastructure (suras) in Tahura and empower the local community's economy.

"The increase in the sapras is meant to improve roads, bridges (box culverts), parking lots, information centers, parks, increase tourist splashes, and environmental services," he said.

Teguh emphasized that the use of these funds was mostly used to improve infrastructure and environmental services.