Ganjar Restores 39.5 Percent Of Critical Land In Central Java, Already Planted 101 Million Trees

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo (Photo via Central Java Provincial Government)

JAKARTA - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo managed to restore 251,037 hectares of critical land in Central Java by carrying out reforestation and reforestation in state forests and community forests, since his first term in office in 2014.

Head of Watershed Management and Natural Resources Conservation Department of Environment and Forestry of Central Java Province, Soegiharto said that in 2013, critical land in Central Java reached 634,598 hectares.

Within a period of eight years, efforts have been made to rehabilitate forests and land covering an area of 251,037 hectares. In 2018, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry released data on critical land in Central Java, only 375,733 hectares remained.

"In general, in Central Java in the 2014-2021 period, we have handled around 39.5 percent of the critical land area recorded in 2013. That was in Pak Ganjar's era in periods one and two," said Soegiharto in an official statement from the Central Java Provincial Government, Wednesday. 27 July.

Soegiharto explained that since the first period in 2014 until now, there have been as many as 101 million tree trunks planted for reforestation and reforestation in Central Java.

“During Pak Ganjar's period, he actually emphasized that this aspect of environmental restoration is very important, one of his visions is loving the environment. During these eight years, there have been as many as 100 million tree trunks planted for reforestation and reforestation," he said, Tuesday (26/7/2022).

Technically, Soegiharto explained, the 101 million trees planted were of various types, according to the conditions and needs of the land. For the rehabilitation of forests and productive lands, trees such as sengon, teak, mahogany, pine, damar, jabon, suren, eucalyptus, and others were selected.

"For water conservation and friends, we choose Gayam, sugar palm, banyan, feather, mangrove, ketapang, kepoh trees, and others," he said.

He added that the tree planting movement was carried out massively by Ganjar. In recent years, the white-haired politician has not hesitated to go downstairs to invite the community to actively plant trees.

“It seems that the Governor's movement has been very massive in recent years to come down to teach us how to plant. He didn't want to be just ceremonial. Currently, the context of public awareness is very high (planting trees),” he continued.

In addition, Ganjar is also able to cooperate with a number of parties to participate in nature conservation efforts. Such as the Central Government, BUMN, CSR, and nature-loving communities.

“This is in synergy with the Central Government, BUMN and others hand in hand. Because this is a shared responsibility," he explained.

In addition to land and forest rehabilitation, his party also seeks to protect and manage ecosystem-valued areas, for the protection of life support systems, preservation of biodiversity, and sustainable use.

"In 2014 the acceleration of the development of the KPAA Mangkunegara I Grand Forest Park Nature conservation area which is on the slopes of Lawu, and in 2015 the launching of the Baturaden Botanical Garden as a special conservation area for plant preservation," he added.

He explained, the concept of area management that combines the interests of biodiversity conservation, community socio-economic development and logistical support, was recognized by Unesco in October 2020. Namely the management of the Karimunjawa Jepara Muria, Merapi Merbabu, and Menoreh Biosphere Reserves.

"Currently, we are preparing to establish new Essential Ecosystem Areas (KEEs), including the Petungkriono Forest KEE, Mount Ungaran, Cilacap Mangrove, and areas that have a protection function and high conservation value such as Mount Slamet, Mount Muria, Mount Prahu, Mount Bismo, and others," he said.

For information, from data from the LHK Office of Central Java Province, the state forest area in Central Java in 2021 is 649,848.59 hectares. State forests consist of 15,329.48 hectares of conservation forest, 83,705.94 hectares of protected forest, and 550,813.17 hectares of production forest. Meanwhile, community-owned forest is estimated to be 640,393.88 hectares.