President Jokowi Distributes Social Forestry Certificates to 1,685 Householders

President Jokowi distributes Social Forestry Certificates, at Wonoharjo Village Office, Boyolali Regency, Central Java, on Saturday (4/11). (Photo: BPMI)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo asserted that he will monitor the implementation of the Social Forestry Program provided by the Government. If it turns out that the land given to farmers is found abandoned, then the land already given will be taken again.

“The lands that have been given, if later found abandoned, will be taken again. Please be productive, the plants should be useful. Do not let the land not cultivated,” President Jokowi said when delivering a speech at the distribution of the Social Forestry Certificates, in the Wonoharjo Village Office, Boyolali Regency, Central Java, Saturday (4/11) afternoon.

On the occasion, President Jokowi distributed the Forest Access Certificate of Social Forestry with a total area of 1,890.6 hectares to 1,685 householders through several farmer groups. The certificate is valid for 35 years. The President asserted that a year later, he will check one by one the land that has been given to the farmers. “We want what has been given to bring benefits to the farmers. I want a concrete action that can prosper our society,” the President said.

To that end, the President reminded farmer groups to use the land by planting productive plants in accordance with their regions.

Economic Empowerment

President Jokowi believes that the distribution of Forest Access Certificates of the Social Forestry Program will enable the community to empower the economic value of land in accordance with the law.

Previously, President Jokowi has also handed over social forestry land in Muara Gembong, Bekasi Regency, West Java, on Wednesday (1/11), to be used as shrimp ponds. The President hopes that social forestry can support the economic community by utilizing the land in their respective regions.

According to the President, state-owned banks will provide financial supports in assisting the development of social forestry enterprises. However, the President reminded the community to meticulously calculate the capital requirements and loans to the bank so as not to harm them.

Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya said in her report that social forestry in Indonesia has reached an area of 1.08 million hectares. She mentioned that social forestry land that is still in the completion process is 960 thousand hectares.

“For the island of Java, 46,000 hectares are on the process which spread on 48 points in 30 regencies,” Minister Siti concluded. (*/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).