Banjarmasin, S Kalimatan (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in collaboration with South Kalimantan Provincial Government conduct a Management Policy Study for Meratus Mountains to propose changing its function into a national park.
The ministry's Director General of Forestry Planning and Environmental Management Hanif Faisol Nurrofiq said that the initiative to change function was considering that South Kalimantan is one of four provinces in Indonesia that does not yet have a national park.
“The aim to change function is to increase the intensity of management of Meratus Geopark forest area, considering the tendency of area degradation that continues to increase,” he said in Banjarbaru, Monday (September 23, 2024).
He assessed that the protected forest of Meratus had met the requirements to upgrade its status as a national park area.
“All variables have been submitted and very complete, while UNESCO has also recognized Meratus Geopark, so technically it is feasible to be upgraded to a national park,” he said.
Hanif asked the provincial government to identify the size of the Meratus protected forest area which will be proposed as a national park.
“The Forestry Office (had actually) identified it, but we will review and define it by our technical team to prepare an academic stuudy. We also will involve experts in economic and finance, considering that we also shift the baseline from eco-centric to profit-centric,” he said.
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Regional Secretary of South Kalimantan Roy Rizali Anwar said that the provincial government is encouraging the realization of the initiative. It is considered to bring many benefits to the area and surrounding communities.
Director of Conservation Area Planning of Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) of KLHK Satyawan Pudyatmoko said that the proposal for Meratus to be a national park was appropriate, considering that Meratus area has a biological richness and a unique ecosystem.
“One of the criteria for a national park is that it is unique both in term of biology and ecosystem. There are also community group there who have positive interaction with Meratus Mountains area,” he expounded.
Thus, the proposal is aim to protect the uniqueness of biology, ecosystem, as well as cultures in Meratus Mountains, so they can be used for more optimum purposes.
“Not only for protection, but also the function to empower the community's economy as well as education and research. We are optimistic that this year it can be designated as a national park,” he said.
Read also: Tour visits getting busy to Meratus Geopark's Loksado
