Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Three Attempts to the Resurrection of Forestry Sector

Three decades, is a long enough time in the history of forest management in East Kalimantan. During that time there have been many events that could raise Indonesia as the world's largest timber producer. East Kalimantan forest exploitation, quite a lot of generating foreign exchange and become the biggest advocate for the execution of various development sectors.

Various forestry activities absorb a lot of manpower. But along with the decline in timber production, reduced planting activities (reforestation, afforestation and construction of Industrial Plantation Forest - HTI), and the timber industry activity in recent years, resulting in East Kalimantan forestry sector activity began to subside. Thousands of workers - ranging from power coarse, medium to professional labor (eg graduate of Forestry) was laid off or lose a job.

While in East Kalimantan, there are still a number of timber companies and timber processing industry, but to be able to rise up as in its heyday, when it is quite difficult. Therefore, the Government of East Kalimantan province in its development, strive to revitalize development in the forestry sector, in line with the vision to realize the Province of East Kalimantan as "Agro Industry and Energy Centre Leading Toward a Just and Prosperous Society."

It is now no longer Kaltim has great potential for forest and forest concession (HPH) is limited. But the next provincial government will attempt to build East Kalimantan forests through afforestation, reforestation and industrial timber estates (HTI) for critical forests, barren lands from fire, illegal logging and not priduktif it green again.

DEFORESTATION

East Kalimantan Province is an area of ​​20,865,774 hectares, comprising land area of ​​19,844,117 ha and 1,021,657 ha of marine area management. The total area of ​​forests and waters according to Minister of Forestry Decree No. 79/Kpts-II/2001, covering an area of ​​14,651,553 hectares. But from a research note, in East Kalimantan deforestation is reaching at least 325 thousand hectares per year, so now there are still quite a lot of critical land or no productive inside and outside forest area.

In line with the era of reform and the enactment of Law No.32 of 2004 and the Central-Local Fiscal Balance, then forest management in Indonesia are now also beginning to change. The orientation of forest management is now no longer solely for the purpose of profit, but was aiming at the preservation-oriented management. Similarly, institutional managers, not just the Ministry of Forestry, but has already started rolling into the province and district, in the hope desentra-zation is conceptually forest management will result in management of systems that are democratic, participatory and open.

Meanwhile, forest development are now oriented approach to sustainable forest development in order to realize the sustainability of forests and ecosystems, and the involvement of society at large. In this regard, the Provincial Government of East Kalimantan in 2010 and has launched a program Green Kaltim (Kaltim Green) with the obligation to plant one of five trees (One Man, Five Trees - Omfit), which until now has been realized about 5 million trees of the target of approximately 17 million trees in 2013.

Accordingly, the Governor of East Kalimantan H Dr Awang Faroek responded positively to each of the planting of trees as well as the success of the program Kaltim Green.

Although not the same as the previous era, but the future development of the forestry sector should regain its footing. If this sector rose again, so will many of the parties involved or absorbed in the existing employment.

For the rise of forestry in East Kalimantan at least three efforts that must be implemented in an integrated manner with relevant stakeholders and sustainable. First, planting activities (reforestation, afforestation and HTI) returned must be enhanced with the support of government funding, private and banking.

Second, large-scale industries can not be relied upon again, to the open business opportunities through industrial-scale timber industry by creating small and medium enterprises for the purpose of product diversification and local and export markets.

Third, research and development (R & D) Forestry and research institutes in universities and other institutions should play a role by generating maximum science and technologies that can be applied directly utilized by the community.

This effort is not easy to be realized immediately. Need commitment and support of all parties, both at central and regional government, business, universities, NGOs, and various other components that exist in society. (Ri / hmsprov).

Kaltim Forest Damage Reaches 8.1 Million Hectares

SAMARINDA - East Kalimantan Deforestation increasingly apprehensive, based on data from East Kalimantan Forest Service in 2004 indicates a damaged area of ​​forest resources to reach 6.4 million hectares and in 2009 increased to 8.1 million hectares, including the destruction of mangrove forests in the area of ​​the Mahakam Delta.

"Deforestation Kaltim in 2004 reached 6.4 million hectares with an average damage rate of 350 thousand hectares per year. The damage continues, so in 2009 is estimated at 8.1 million hectares of damaged forest East Kalimantan," said the Governor of East Kalimantan, Dr Awang Faroek H Isaac at the welcome dinner REDD Implementation Workshop participants, in the hall Lamin Etam, Monday night (21 / 3).

According to Awang, in order to address the occurrence of damage to forest areas which have a negative impact on the environment, especially climate. East Kalimantan provincial government to do the necessary steps to reduce deforestation and forest degradation.

Important steps are among others that include aspects of institutional, sectoral empowerment and improving the welfare of society as well as cooperation with various stakeholders.
From the policy side, East Kalimantan provincial government tried to synergize the development-oriented approach to improving the welfare of society, while still considering aspects of environmental sustainability.

This was stated in East Kalimantan provincial government's vision, namely "To materialize as Central Kalimantan Agro Industry and Energy Leading Toward a Just and Prosperous Society." Concretely, the government's policy was stated in the activities of which are summarized in the program "Kaltim Green".

"Kaltim Green is a regional program that has the policies, governance and development that provides social and ecological protection of the community. As well as providing long-term guarantee of the safety and welfare of society and sustainable environment," he explained.
Declaration Green Kaltim (Kaltim Green) in January 2010 and then as a result of Kaltim Summit meeting. Through this declaration has been programmed to move one person to plant five trees (one man five trees) and to date has planted 4.83 million trees.

However, the East Kalimantan provincial government aware of these efforts are not without problems and constraints, especially concerning human resources and budget as well as institutional support that has not been firmly established.

"Accordingly, the need for enhanced cooperation with various related parties for the development of climate change programs, particularly in the area of ​​East Kalimantan REDD can be done well," please Awang Faroek. (Yans / hmsprov).

Photo: Governor of East Kalimantan, Dr Awang Faroek H Ishak, continue to encourage the planting of trees including the types of local fruits as an effort to succeed in the program Kaltim Green. (Yayan / humasprov)