South Kalimantan Forestry Department strengthens strategy for watershed rehabilitation by 2026

Banjarbaru (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Forestry Department is strengthening its strategy for implementing watershed rehabilitation to achieve a target of 6,053 hectares by 2026 as part of efforts to reduce the rate of critical land and improve sustainable water management.

The Head of the South Kalimantan Forestry Department, Fathimatuzzahra, in Banjarbaru on Thursday, said that the strategy was being strengthened through the determination of priority locations based on the level of land criticality and the hydrological conditions of the watershed, improving the quality of seedlings and silvicultural techniques, and strengthening the role of Forest Management Units (KPH) as controllers of activities at the site level.

“The monitoring and reporting mechanisms are also being tightened to ensure the success of plant growth, not just the achievement of planting area,” she said.

In addition, the South Kalimantan Forestry Department is also strengthening the strategy through coordination meetings and evaluating the implementation of the 2025 Watershed Rehabilitation planting activities, which are combined with discussions on the 2026 target.

In the evaluation of the 2025 program implementation, the South Kalimantan Forestry Department reviewed the progress of planting, the success rate of plant growth, plant maintenance activities, and identified a number of obstacles, including access to rehabilitation locations, weather factors, and the need to strengthen the participation of local communities around the area.

After setting a target of 6,053 hectares, the South Kalimantan Forestry Department also discussed the scheme for handing over the results of the rehabilitation in accordance with the provisions so that post-rehabilitation management remains sustainable.

“Watershed rehabilitation must be carried out in a planned and sustainable manner. The success of the program is not only measured by the planting area, but also by the viability of the plants and its impact on reducing erosion and improving water management,” said Fathimatuzzahra.

The forum was attended by the Heads of UPTD KPH in the South Kalimantan Forestry Department, the Head of UPTD Tahura Sultan Adam, representatives from BPDAS Barito, the Forestry Law Enforcement Unit of the Kalimantan Region, and holders of Permits for the Use of Forest Areas (PPKH).