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