Govt to Distribute 12.7 Million Hectare Land Concession
President Jokowi distributes social forestry decrees to communities. Photo by: Facebook page of the President.
The Government has distributed 2.53 million-hectare land concession through social forestry program and will distribute 12.7 million more hectares, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has said.
“(The Government has distributed) 56,000 hectares for 1,900 households in 10 Municipalities in South Sumatra, 26,572 hectares for 15,427 households in West Java and 80.9 hectares for 38 members of Mina Bakti farmer group in Muara Gembong, Bekasi as well as in many other areas,” the President wrote on his Facebook page, Wednesday (27/2).
According to the President, social forestry program is not land ownership transfer, but a legal access to use state forests within a thirty-five-year tenure, aiming to narrow down social inequality, increase income in communities, and reduce poverty.
The program, he added, is supported by a follow-up program, including facilities and infrastructure for production, training and counseling, access to market information, access to technology, access to finance, and post-harvest management, in order to empower the people living in the forest area.
Previously, President Jokowi on Tuesday (26/2) said that he had instructed related government officials to accelerate data collection and forest-land management to ensure that the program benefit the people and indigenous communities. (ES)
Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Ersan Pamungkas
