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)