TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Balikpapan's Sungai Wain Protected Forest Agency in East Kalimantan had handed over thousands of hectares of land to its local residents. The land that is located in the most outer area of the protected forest is going to be used to plant various productive plants.
"They are local residents who have lived in the location for a long time," said Soufian, the agency's director.
He said the residents have lived there since the protected forest first existed. They meet their daily needs through planting various fruit and vegetables.
There are several categories of residents who are in the protected forest region, which are residents who hold Balikpapan ID cards, no ID cards, and residents from outside the region. Currently, they only give land to a group of residents who hold Balikpapan ID cards.
Besides asking the locals to utilize the forest land, the locals are also urged to maintain and secure the forest. They are also required to report any protected forest encroachment activities.
SG WIBISONO