Forest Management Issues Relate to Ministry's Programs: Expert  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hariadi Kartodihardjo, a professor of forestry policy at Bogor Agriculture Institute said the transfer of forestry permit authority from regency to provincial government would not be the solution to forest management issues.

“It’s not a matter of structure, but a matter of power network,” Hariadi said on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, in a discussion themed “the implication of Law Number 23/2014 on forest resources management by regional government.”

According to Hariadi, who also serves as chairman of the National Forestry Council, explained that the main issues of forest management relate to policies, programs and budgets that were not focused on settling claims and conflicts centering on forest resources. Hariadi claimed that the performance of forestry ministry and agency is measured by budget spending.

“Budget spending is not relevant with whether the programs are appropriate to address issues,” Hariadi said.

Hariadi added that conflicts over forestry had always inflicted losses among indigenous people. On the other hand, companies who can pay bribes would always reap the benefits.

Hariadi suggested that such an expansion of authority for the provincial government must be followed by an improvement in institutional and personnel capacity. However, he said, the mechanism to realize this was yet reflected in the ministry’s programs.

AHMAD NURHASIM