DPR Calls for Responsible Forest Governance to Protect Economic Potential

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), Panggah Susanto, stated that forest governance must be carried out optimally and responsibly to preserve the economic potential of tropical forests.

Panggah appreciated the initiative by the Ministry of Forestry to launch the Decision Support System (DSS) application, Jaga Rimba, which will serve as the basis for a one-map policy in managing Indonesia’s vast forests. “I think developing such a large area is now expensive, so the economic potential is very significant. We must truly realise this is a blessing that we need to be accountable for,” Panggah said during the Jaga Rimba DSS launch event in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He noted that Indonesia’s forests are among the largest in the world, complemented by numerous small islands and extensive coastlines, all of which must be protected through good governance. However, current forest management issues are quite complex; for instance, a forest area might contain a village or an administrative office such as a kelurahan, yet it is not clearly detected on existing maps.

Panggah said the Jaga Rimba DSS application must transform the ministry’s working methods by integrating all information regarding forest governance. He also stressed the need for direct field monitoring of forest land use so that the data obtained is more verified. “I think in the coming years, we should reactivate forest police like in the old days to monitor the field alongside satellite surveillance. If necessary, the police themselves should also be monitored; they must work in the field,” he said.

He added that the presence of Jaga Rimba will make it easier for the ministry and relevant directorates general to obtain integrated information, enabling policies that lead to better forest management. Panggah said Commission IV will also monitor the Jaga Rimba platform from the Ministry of Forestry as a reference to avoid future forest governance problems, expressing hope that the application can provide solutions to forest management issues.