Forestry Ministry seeks added budget for stronger fire mitigation
The funds will also be used to renew facilities and infrastructure, conduct joint patrols with Fire Care Communities, and carry out weather modification operations to anticipate the projected four-year El Niño cycleJakarta (ANTARA) - The Forestry Ministry has proposed an additional budget around Rp6.23 trillion for the 2027 fiscal year to strengthen sustainable forest management and preparedness for a four-year El Niño cycle, as well as improve community welfare.
The Forestry Vice Minister, Rohmat Marzuki, said here on Thursday during a meeting with Commission IV of the House of Representatives (DPR) that the proposed budget was prepared based on forestry development needs while taking into account input from lawmakers.
“The proposed additional budget will prioritize key areas including forest fire prevention and mitigation. The funds will also be used to renew facilities and infrastructure, conduct joint patrols with Fire Care Communities, and carry out weather modification operations to anticipate the projected four-year El Niño cycle in 2027,” he said.
Another major priority that the government proposed is to strengthening institutions at the regional level, including the operational of 35 working units for forest ecosystem development centers, and funding for the recruitment and salaries of 21,000 additional forest rangers.
The proposal of forest ranger recruitment, says the Vice Minister, is still being finalized in discussions with the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform.
In order to support poverty alleviation programs, the ministry committed to increase community-based spending allocations through the distribution of productive economic assistance tools for local communities around forest areas.
Forest governance will be strengthened through the procurement of high-technology aerial monitoring equipment and light aircraft to tighten regular monitoring of activities and land cover.
The Ministry also proposed additional funds for the management of Way Kambas and Tesso Nilo National Parks, improvement to nature tourism facilities, and the acceleration of customary forest recognition, which is targeted to reach 1.4 million hectares by 2029.
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Translator: Bayu Prasetyo