Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong called on members of the Quick Reaction Forest Ranger Unit, or SPORC, to improve their capacity to monitor forests in Indonesia.

"SPORC members must always be ready to master (forest) territories in their respective work areas following the character of the region, typology, and forest crimes," he noted in a statement quoted here on Thursday.

Dohong attended SPORC's 18th Anniversary celebration at Way National Park, Lampung Province.

He remarked that the mastery of territory by SPORC's intelligence members aims to prevent potential threats from turning into incidents, such as illegal logging, encroachment, fires, hunting, and social conflicts, which can have a damaging effect on the function and benefits of forests.

According to Dohong, SPORC forest rangers should have the ability to supervise the condition and dynamics of forests, identify potential problems, and find appropriate strategies and steps to overcome various forestry and environmental problems.

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In carrying out forest territorial mastery, Dohong emphasized that SPORC members should be prepared in terms of facilities and infrastructure, physical, psychological, and budget readiness.

Moreover, they need to possess adequate knowledge and skills about geographical, ecological, and socio-cultural conditions in the regions they oversee.

"Territorial control requires good cooperation with various parties at the center, regions, non-governmental organizations, academics, media, and the community, including with other law enforcement officials to protect and manage forest areas," Dohong remarked.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is currently preparing a human resource capacity-building center in the Forest Area with Special Purpose (KHDTK) in Sentul, Bogor, West Java, to train environmental and forestry law enforcement personnel.

At the facility, SPORC members will receive advanced training in supervising forest areas.

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Translator: Sugiharto P, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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