Forestry Minister Strengthens East Lombok's Food Security Through Social Forestry

Lombok Timur (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni handed over the social forestry decree (SK) to community groups around forest areas in East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB) to strengthen local food security. “Social forestry is a national strategic programme and the Ministry of Forestry supports the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto’s programme related to food security,” he said in a speech after handing over the SK for managing the Loang Gali Forest, Lenek District, East Lombok Regency, Lombok Timur, on Saturday. He hoped that the recipients of the SK would make full use of the programme, manage the social forestry well, and turn the forest into a productive asset by cultivating various crops towards self-sufficiency in food. “This land is being used well in supporting national food security,” he said. “Previously, when people entered the forest, they often faced forest police, but now the people are given legal access to manage the forest area, while continuing to maintain forest sustainability,” he said. He said in NTB there are tens of thousands of aspirations that have been submitted for social forestry. “We hope this can be a driver for the welfare of the people. With the aim that the welfare of the surrounding communities around the area also prospers,” he said. The Director General of Social Forestry, Catur Endah Prasetya, said that handing over the social forestry management SK is an effort to increase the welfare of communities around the forest. He urged them to keep synergising with all parties in developing ventures in the area, from planting to marketing. “The Ministry will continue to oversee from planting to marketing,” he said.