Customary forest should not be exploited

Tanjung, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - South Kalimantan Environment Office reminded that customary forest should not be exploited, but it must be saved and managed with due regard to environmental preservation.

Head of the Office's Capacity Building and Environmental Regulation Wahyuni Majedi said that customary forest and the existance of the customary law communities must be saved in relation to sustainable forest management.

"We must understand the function of customary forest as a guarantee of living space for customary law communities, so they must be maintained," Wahyuni expounded at the dissemination of customary law communities in Tanjung, Tabalong District, Wednesday.

He then mentioned the distribution of cutomary areas in South Kalimantan that there are 237 customary centers with the highest number in Central Hulu Sungai (HST) District reaching 62.

In Tabalong itself, based on data collected by Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara Kalsel (AMAN=Alliance of the Archipelago Customary Law Communities of South Kalimantan) there are 12 customary centers spread in the sub-districts of Haruai, Upau, Bintang Ara, Muara Uya, Tanta, and Murung Pudak.

The socialization of customary law community here was attended by the Regional Secretary of Tabalong Hj Hamida Munawarah, who represented Tabalong Regent H Anang Syakhfiani.

The regent in his written remarks said that so far there has been no committee of customary law community in the district. He hopes that through this dissemination it could be understood on how to form the committee.

Including an effort to equalize perception and participants could understand their respective function in the implementation, determination, and recognition of customary law community.

Chairman of AMAN for South Kalimantan Rubi gave presentation regarding the preparation of spatial and social data of customary law community of Tabalong to encourage recognation, protection, and determination of customary communities and customary forest.

The socialization was organized by the Tabalong Environment Office by involving representatives of customary communities, village and sub-district officials, and other parties.