During a hearing with Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) on the automatic budget adjustment in 2023 here on Monday, he informed that Rp31.52 billion (US$2.08 million) of the budget will be allocated to the ministry’s Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management.
The directorate general will use the budget to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) carry out legal verification of timber, conduct forest security patrols with the community, finance forest utilization activities, and develop forest management units.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Watershed Management and Forest Rehabilitation at the ministry will get Rp918.52 billion (US$60.54 million) in funding.
The budget will be used for carrying out forest and land rehabilitation in the new capital (IKN) Nusantara and surrounding watersheds, conducting forest, land, and coastal rehabilitation in other regions, as well as fostering plant seedlings at nurseries.
The ministry has allocated Rp183.42 billion (US$12.09 million) for the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystems Conservation to encourage the development of productive environmental businesses and bolster conservation partnership business units.
The fund will also be utilized to improve the capacity of nature tourism groups; strengthen joint community patrols; as well as revitalize terrestrial ecosystems, essential ecosystems, and wildlife in conservation areas.
Furthermore, the Directorate General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships will receive Rp37.08 billion (US$2.44 million) for the productive economic movement, the development of the social forestry enterprises (Bang Pesona) program, and the provision of productive economic tools.
The directorate general will also improve the capacity of social forestry business groups using the budget.
The ministry has also allocated Rp72.95 billion (US$4.81 million) to the Directorate General of Toxic and Hazardous (B3) Waste Management for constructing a B3 waste processing facility, mercury-free gold processing infrastructure, and waste handling facilities in priority locations.
The budget will also be utilized to provide garbage motorbikes and specific waste management tools as well as support the use of the waste bank facility.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Pollution and Environmental Damage Mitigation will get Rp109.85 billion (US$7.24 million) to build a wastewater treatment plant in the Citarum watershed, rehabilitate former community mining lands, as well as prevent pollution and damage on the coast and in the sea.
The directorate general will also revitalize community-owned degraded peatlands as well as conserve seagrass meadows and coral reefs using the allocated budget.
Furthermore, the Directorate General of Climate Change Control will receive Rp125 billion (US$8.24 million) to carry out preventive measures against forest and land fires as well as handle such fires through land-based fire-extinguishing efforts.
The ministry’s Human Resources Counseling and Development Agency will receive Rp9.47 billion (US$624 thousand) for assisting the establishment of independent forest farmer groups and the implementation of a community forest and environmental business model called wanawiyata widyakarya.
The agency will also conduct vocational training for environmental and forestry technical personnel using the budget.
Further, the ministry has allocated Rp182.80 billion (US$12 million) for the National Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) to rehabilitate mangrove ecosystems, implement the Independent Village Cares for Peatland and Independent Village Cares for Mangroves programs, build drilled wells and canal-blocking, and revitalize coastal people's livelihoods and economy.
In addition, the Environment and Forestry Instrument Standardization Agency of the ministry will get Rp3.80 billion (US$250 thousand) for the management of forest areas with special purposes.
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Translator: Sugiharto Purnama, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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