This initiative was outlined by Wening Sri Wulandari, Head of the Center for Development of Hydrometeorological Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation at the Ministry of Forestry, during a briefing on forests, humans, and the Earth, held with religious leaders and faith-based communities in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The event brought together 450 religious leaders and community representatives from across Indonesia. It aimed to strengthen their capacity to communicate issues related to deforestation and climate change to the public.
Wulandari said the government is open to working with all groups, including religious leaders, to protect and restore forest areas.
The Ministry of Forestry is targeting the rehabilitation of 12.7 million hectares of critical land by 2029 as part of a national strategic program.
According to Wulandari, the program includes restoring degraded areas across mineral soils, peatlands, and mangrove ecosystems, all of which play a crucial role in mitigating climate-related disasters.
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She stressed that the government cannot achieve this goal alone, and emphasized the need for active participation from regional communities and religious leaders, who have significant influence.
“Religious leaders can be powerful agents of change because they have strong networks and the public’s trust,” she said. "We invite them to take part in tree planting and environmental protection."
To encourage public participation, the ministry is distributing free plant seeds to communities—a move aimed at raising awareness about the importance of environmental conservation.
According to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Indonesia recorded 1,942 disasters in 2024, with 95 percent classified as hydrometeorological in nature.
Wulandari emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in the holistic management of natural resources, guided by both ecological and spiritual values.
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Translator: M Riezko, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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