People can only make use of forest products but must not cut wood, because if that happens then the forest will come back baldBengkulu, Sumatra (ANTARA News) - The critical land area of 464,458 hectares in Bengkulu province will be proposed to be rural forests, head of Bengkulu`s forestry office, Risman Sipayung, said here, Friday.
"There are 464,458 hectares of critical lands and 154,159 hectares are in very critical condition and will gradually proposed to be rural forests for the management," he said.
He added, the development of rural forest spread over nine districts to address deforestation due to encroachment and illegal logging.
"Rural forest is the most appropriate program to address deforestation, besides the local people can get compensation from the forest," Risman added.
Critical lands in Bengkulu expand each year due to encroachment and illegal logging, even in protected forest and conservation areas.
To overcome the problem, the office will conduct reforestation program on critical lands with rural forest pattern in accordance with the Minister of Forestry Regulation number 49/2008 on Rural Forest.
Through the pattern, the village administration can access and manage the forest areas and it is expected to reduce forest management conflicts between the people and the administration.
After producing the forest, the villagers are allowed to take non-timber forest products in hopes to always maintaining its continuity by not cutting down the plants which is begin to produce, but only allowed to take the results from the plant.
"People can only make use of forest products but must not cut wood, because if that happens then the forest will come back bald," Risman said.
Other plants provided for the community include rubber plants, walnut, nut, jengkol (Archidendron pauciflorum) and petai (Parkia speciosa), fruits and other crops.
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Editor: AA Ariwibowo
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