Indonesia: Govt to reactivate reforestation campaign -- Vice President

Antara 21 Mar 17;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla has stressed the need to reactivate national reforestation campaign to rehabilitate the damaged environment.

"In the past, we have Gerhan campaign, the national campaign of land reforestation, now we need to reactivate this campaign," Kalla said here, Monday.

In its initial stage, the campaign would be conducted in West Java, starting from June.

"We have already started the rehabilitation in some forests, reforestation, air seedling. Including the rehabilitation program in Bima. We will restore the damaged river basin using reforestation fund," he added.

The government has allocated some Rp4 trillion for reforestation fund, and the program would be conducted under the coordination of the Environment and Forestry Ministry and the Public Works Ministry.

"I have set the target, within the next two years we can reduce the risk of flood in Bandung by rehabilitating its environment," the Vice President said.

Previously, chairman of the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) Willem Rampangilei said, the government has allocated Rp320 billion (US$23.9 million) from disaster management fund, for reforestation program and rehabilitation of river basin in West Java and West Nusa Tenggara.

Of the total funds, some Rp62.9 billion would be allocated for river basin reforestation in West Nusa Tenggara and the remaining would be used for a similar program in West Java.

The program is scheduled to begin in April.

The program would include changing the cultivation pattern in the slopes area, development of supporting facilities such as water, and land conservation facility.(*)