Central Java Regional House of Representatives Drafts Regulation to Address Land Conversion and Deforestation
Semarang — Central Java’s Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Jateng) has approved the initiative for a regional regulation bill on the Management of Critical Land Rehabilitation and Forest Reclamation in the province. The bill was proposed by Commission B of the Regional House of Representatives.
During a plenary session at the Regional House of Representatives building, Commission B Secretary Sholeha Kurniawati highlighted land conversion and deforestation issues in the province, stating they heighten the risk of natural disasters.
Sholeha explained that the province’s environmental and forest conditions face complex challenges. ‘Rising land conversion, forest degradation, erosion, sedimentation, and declining river basin quality have impacted ecosystem balance and increased the potential for disasters such as floods, landslides, and droughts across various regions,’ she said on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.
She added that critical lands still exist within and outside forest areas requiring serious and sustained management.
‘Therefore, a regional policy is needed to provide clear guidance and legal certainty for integrated and sustainable critical land rehabilitation and forest reclamation,’ Sholeha said.
She explained that the regional regulation bill aims for planned, systematic, and integrated implementation, involving all stakeholders including government, business, academia, and communities.
‘This regulation is expected to serve as a legal foundation for restoring and enhancing land and forest functions to maintain environmental balance, improve environmental carrying capacity, and support sustainable regional development,’ Sholeha stated.
She added that the bill also aims to strengthen inter-departmental coordination, improve planning effectiveness, encourage public participation, and ensure adequate funding for rehabilitation efforts.
‘Commission B of Central Java’s Regional House of Representatives also recognises that critical land rehabilitation and forest reclamation are not just environmental issues but also affect social and economic aspects, particularly for communities living near forest areas and those impacted by environmental damage,’ Sholeha said.
She noted that with clear and comprehensive regulations, rehabilitation efforts in Central Java can be more optimal, measurable, and sustainable, ‘benefiting the public and preserving natural resources for future generations,’ she added.
During the plenary session, the proposed regional regulation bill was approved as an initiative of the Regional House of Representatives, with Commission B instructed to proceed with further deliberations.