"The rich potential of forests can be used as a capital to handle poverty, reduce unemployment, and make the rural economy move," Manpower Minister's Expert Staff, Caswiyono Rusydie Cakrawangsa, noted in his statement here on Monday.
At Java's Social Forestry Consolidation event held in Batang, Central Java, on Sunday (July 9), he stated that the Ministry of Manpower is preparing a program to expand job opportunities for farmers and business players in forestry areas.
Recipients and proposers of social forest decrees from various regions, such as Batang, Pekalongan, Pemalang, Banjarnegara, Banyumas, Cilacap, and Temanggung, partook in the event, titled "Social Forestry- Based Job Opportunity Expansion."
He emphasized that forests, as natural resources, should be preserved and offer benefits to increase the welfare of farmers and the communities around forests.
Cakrawangsa assessed that the social forestry program is a solution, so that the community can preserve forests while concurrently using them for the development of sustainable economic activities.
"Therefore, as a national strategic agenda, social forestry must be accelerated and strengthened through the collaboration of all stakeholders," he remarked.
He also underlined the need for support from various parties to empower farmers and forest management communities, so that the communities can make the most of the forests that they have accessed.
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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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