by Dedy Wahyudi

Sintang -- The Minister of Forestry, DR. H. Zulkifli Hasan, SE, MM, today (13/3) handed over three Village Forest Working Area Determinations (PAK) in Sintang Regency to the Vice Regent of Sintang, Drs. Ignasius Juan, at the Pancasila Building in Sintang.

This handover coincided with a working visit and gathering of the Indonesian Minister of Forestry with the ranks of the Sintang Regency Government, religious leaders, community leaders, students and students of Sintang Regency. The PAKs handed over were Village Forests in Rasau Village (5,850 Ha), Jasa Village (2,100 Ha) and Ensaid Panjang Village (355.597 Ha).

WWF Indonesia has played a role in assisting the initiation of Village Forests in Jasa Village and Rasau Village with the TITIAN Foundation since 2009. While the Village Forest in Ensaid Panjang Village is assisted by the PRCF Foundation. Rudi Zapariza, Project Leader Sintang-Melawi, WWF Indonesia, explained, ""The assistance carried out includes activities such as documentation studies of community readiness, area identification, facilitation of the formation of village forest management institutions, policy advocacy, village forest management workshops, facilitation of the preparation of village forest work plans and the preparation of village regulations on village forest management institutions."

In his speech, Zulkifli Hasan explained a little about forest and forestry problems that still often occur in Indonesia, such as; forest and land exploitation, and land conflicts. "The impact can already be felt, such as haze, landslides, floods that result in huge economic and social losses," he said.

The Minister further explained that there has been a fundamental paradigm shift in terms of forestry. Previously, forest exploitation practices were dominated by companies that had considerable management and capital, leaving people without access to manage and benefit from the forest. On the contrary, nowadays, forest management must be community-based as much as possible.

Regarding the PAK that has been handed over, the Minister of Forestry hopes that the village forest can be managed properly for the welfare of the community, but still maintain and maintain the quality of the forest. In the future, village forests that are already running with Village Forest Work Plans (RKHD) are expected to be converted into other community-based forests.