Minister of Environment and Forestry Opens the AP2SI Social Forestry Festival and National Conference in Mojokerto
PRESS RELEASE
Number: SP.157/HUMAS/PPIP/HMS.3/05/2023
Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya opened the Social Forestry Festival which was integrated with the National Conference of the Indonesian Social Forestry Management Association AP2SI with the theme "Social Forestry as a Source of Livelihood" in Padusan Village, Pacet District, Mojokerto, East Java, Tuesday (23/05/2023).
The Social Forestry Festival, which will be held for 4 (four) days from 23-26 May 2023, will be an event to strengthen knowledge, practice, and strengthen the promotion and achievements of social forestry that have been carried out by social forestry actors and managers.
"Through the momentum of the Social Forestry Festival, let us ignite the spirit and work together to contribute to the commitment to eradicating poverty, advancing human resources, and preserving forests and the environment," said Minister Siti in her opening remarks.
He also said that he was grateful that the Social Forestry Program was included as one of the national strategic programs. Since it was implemented in 2016 until now, the achievement of Social Forestry until May 2023 is 5,522,164.64 hectares, with 8,169 decision units for approximately 1,201,939 heads of families.
"By the end of 2025, I ask that at least 70% of the target of 12.7 million ha be achieved, which is the ideal target that must be completed at any time," Minister Siti emphasized.
Minister Siti also said that innovations will continue to be made in strengthening the social forestry program, especially in the institutional/group aspect, some of which are the application of the concept of GIS share cultivation which will emphasize the boundaries of the social forestry area for each manager.
"The contribution to the Social Forestry is important because it will be authorized for 35 years and can be extended to 70 years, so the area boundaries must be known with certainty," he said.
Minister Siti also thanked AP2SI for supporting the implementation of this Social Forestry Festival. The success of the implementation of this Social Forestry Festival must be amplified by holding it in Jakarta in the near future. In the Festival, the most important thing is that in addition to introducing social forestry products, a seller meet buyer forum will also be facilitated to strengthen the market network for social forestry products.
In line with this, the Regent of Mojokerto, Ikfina Fahmawati, said that Mojokerto Regency is strongly committed to how to create a market, so that forest farmer products can be utilized more widely so that the sustainability of social forestry efforts can continue to be encouraged.
"We are trying to get Mojokerto residents to start using social forestry products, because this is also in line with the campaign to use domestic products," he said.
Then the General Chairperson of the National Management Board of AP2SI, Roni Usman Kusmana said that social forestry really provides justice, comfort and peace for the community. The Social Forestry Festival held in Mojokerto was said to be an important moment for social forestry managers to develop networks and as a communication forum to strengthen social forestry amidst various opportunities and challenges.
"This festival is an effort to strengthen interaction between managers and the wider public in order to realize fair and sustainable community-based forest management amidst various opportunities and challenges," he said.
Walhi National Executive Director, Zenzi Suhadi who was also present appreciated the Government's commitment to the Social Forestry program. However, he advised the community or community groups who get access to social forestry to pay attention to the sustainability of their forests, not just to get economic benefits from forest management.
"To our forest farmer friends, with social forestry after being given management rights we should not stop at the certificate, because we must show that when people are given space and opportunity, we can solve other problems too. It is not only a matter of each farmer to be able to work, but also how to restore forest functions. So the right to work is restored, the environmental function is also restored, then the economy will also recover," he said.
The Minister of Environment and Forestry and his entourage also visited PT. Integra Indocabinet to review and discuss the implementation of SVLK.
Present to accompany the Minister of Environment and Forestry, the Director General of PSKL, the Director General of PHL, related Senior High-Level Officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Head of the East Java Environment and Forestry Service, the Head of the East Java Perhutani Regional Division, the National Executive Director of WALHI, the Heads of UPTs in East Java, the Director of Walhi, Envoys from the USA and the United Kingdom, and social forest farmers.(*)
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Jakarta, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, May 23, 2023
Responsible for news:
Head of Public Relations Bureau, KLHK
Nunu Anugrah
