Forestry Minister: Indonesia Needs Reliable Foresters

At the age of 50 years, Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) receives a mandate from Minister of Forestry, Zulkifli Hasan, SE, MM that IPB is expected to generate foresters who are responsible and reliable as well as love the forest. This message was conveyed in his speech at the National Seminar: New Indonesian Forestry, Wednesday (25/9) at the Auditorium of Andi Hakim Nasoetion, Darmaga Campus of IPB.

 

The forester’s role, according to Zulkifli, is to help promote the importance of keeping the environment as well as to be active in the negotiations at the global level.

 

It is estimated that in 2050 world population will reach 9 billion. It takes twice the land of this planet earth. The need for food will increase by 60-70 percents. "It can be ascertained that the forest land will change its function, if not managed properly. Therefore, IPB should open up opportunities for the nation’s children to gain forestry sciences. We desperately need foresters who can help make the public have more love for the environment," he said.

 

In the current era of autonomy, Zulkifli said, it is not easy for the central government to establish cooperation with local governments in terms of forest management. The authority in forest management is not in the hands of the central government again. "Forest Services are now under the coordination of the local government," said Zulkifli. Furthermore, Zulkifli said, it is difficult to have cooperation with local governments. "Even only to invite or provide guidance has to go through the Ministry of the Interior, let alone giving a reprimand," he explained. But if there is an elephant dead in Aceh, forest fires in Riau, it is still the Ministry of Forestry to blame as if all respobsibilities were at the central givernment, he added. (Mtd)