Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government continues to reduce deforestation and utilize forests sustainably, said Agus Justianto, Director General of Sustainable Forest Management of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), on Sunday.

"Achieving the lowest deforestation rate is a key performance indicator for forestry sector development," he told a seminar in Jakarta.

Data from the ministry shows that Indonesia's net deforestation decreased to 104,000 hectares in 2021–2022, down from 113,500 hectares in 2020–2021.

The highest deforestation rate from 1996 to 2000 was 3.5 million hectares per year, but it declined to 0.75 million hectares per year in 2002–2014. The lowest rate was recorded at 104,000 hectares in 2022.

Justianto highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to transform forest utilization through schemes like multi-business forestry, which emphasizes not just wood production but also landscape-based management.

This integrated approach fosters increased land productivity by encouraging diverse forestry businesses focused on environmental products and services.

The government is also expanding access to forest use not only to corporations but also to the community through social forestry schemes, he noted.

KLHK has issued 9,642 social forestry permits, allowing 1.29 million families to utilize 6.3 million hectares of forest land across Indonesia.

"This initiative demonstrates the government's commitment to allocate forest resources in favor of communities," Justianto said.

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Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Anton Santoso
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