Social forestry program atop Sumahadi's agenda

Social forestry program atop Sumahadi's agenda

JAKARTA (JP): Newly appointed Minister of Forestry and
Plantations Sumahadi promised Saturday he would make the social
forestry program his top priority during his five-year tenure.

Sumahadi said social forestry -- an agroforestry program which
allows villagers to plant crops on unused lands on timber estates
and plantation areas -- was essential to improve living standards
in rural areas.

Although the social forestry program was introduced several
years ago, Sumahadi said it was not used optimally because many
timber and plantations companies were halfhearted in their
efforts.

Speaking to the media following the announcement of the new
cabinet lineup, he said he would be more resolute in pursuing the
realization of the program to ensure positive gains for the
villagers.

"It will not work if we just suggest the company develop
agroforestry, but we have to order them to ensure that the
program is carried out," he said.

Agroforestry, known locally as tumpang sari, is one of the
social forestry programs implemented by the Ministry of Forestry
since 1991 to improve the welfare of villagers living near timber
estates and plantations.

Villagers are allowed to plant rice and other seasonal crops
such as peanuts, corn and soybeans in the forest concession
areas.

He said companies which developed industrial forests or
plantations in their concession areas would have nothing to lose
by permitting the local villagers to farm on their land.

At least 750,000 hectares of forests are developed into
plantations and timber estates annually.

"If one hectare of converted forest could produce at least two
tons of rice by using the agroforestry program, imagine how much
we could get," he said.

Sumahadi added that he would also improve other functions of
forest resources, such as their function as tourist attractions.

"People only know the forest as the producer of wood, rattan
and resin, but the forest has many other functions. If we can
develop the forest as a tourism site, it could be a big foreign
exchange earner."

He listed the Ujung Kulon National Park in West Java and
Bunaken marine park in North Sulawesi as tourist sites which had
yet to be developed fully.

Sumahadi said he would also emphasize the use of what is
commonly known as the stripe cutting and planting system to boost
wood production, which has been on the decline in the past 10
years.

He said the system, introduced by his predecessor Djamaludin
Suryohadikusumo, not only increased wood production from natural
forests, but also better protected the environment.

Born on Nov. 8, 1943, in Pekalongan, Central Java, Sumahadi
earned his undergraduate degree from Gadjah Mada University's
School of Forestry in 1970. He earned his master's in business
administration from Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba Laguna
in the Philippines in 1992.

He married Retno Endah Winarni, his junior at the university,
in 1969 and they have four children.

Sumahadi began his career at the forestry ministry shortly
after graduating from Gadjah Mada. He worked as the head of the
supervisory unit of the forestry services office in Central
Kalimantan.

He served as director general of reforestation and forest
rehabilitation (1993-1995) and his most recent position was
director general of inventory and forest land use (1995-1998).

He is known for his friendliness, and has long been a favorite
of journalists whose regular beat is the forestry ministry.

Retno said Sumahadi's favorite cuisine was Javanese, including
the dishes of sayur lodeh (vegetables stewed in coconut milk) and
tempe bacem (soybean cake).

The minister enjoys singing and listening to music. He met his
wife when they were members of a singing group at Gadjah Mada
University.

He has even been known to invite journalists accompanying him
on tours to other provinces to join him in singing karaoke tunes.
(gis)