Restoration of damaged forests

Restoration of damaged forests

From Republika

Various forest management systems have been applied over the years to ensure sustainable forest conservation.

But the selective logging system, which has been in place for 20 years, has consistently failed to foster forest conservation, as the wood cutting in the forests has not spared trees with a small width (less than 20 cm in diameter).

A tree cutting system, based on lines, was then applied to replace selective the logging system, but this practice was also unable to provide sustainable conservation. The development of timber estates even devastated our forests because of excessive tree cutting or forest burning for clearing of space.

The implementation of regional autonomy can contribute to the improvement of forest management in Indonesia. Every tree cut down in the forest should be replenished with the planting of 100 trees, with a distance of 10 meters between trees.

Each forestry company must have their own nursery, covering 25 hectares of land at the very least. The maintenance of the nursery and the planting of new trees should then be entrusted to the communities close to the forest.

Some 50 percent of the trees provided for replanting should consist of high-quality timber like meranti, kangkirai and ulin, while the rest should consist of trees that can benefit those living near the forest, such as rubber trees, fruit bearing trees, tengkawang (Dipterocarpaceae), eaglewood (gaharu), coconut, and sago.

H. SULAIMAN ISMAIL

Chairman of Foundation

of Empowerment of

Social Economy for

East Kalimantan

Community