InfoSAWIT, SUMSEL -Referring to the Wetland International from Canada through Canadian International Development (CIDA), the wetland in South Sumatera has narrow depth (< 50 cm) to the depth (200 – 400 cm) and there is no areas more than 400 cm category.
The production forest regions which are dominated by the wetland swamp is the production forest (PF) in Simpang Heran Beyeku, PF in Mesusi and PF in Pedamarandi District of OKI reaching about 617.350 hectares, and the PF in S.Lalan and Mangsang-Mendis in District of Musi Banyuasin and District of Banyuasin reaching ± 331.304 hectares. The total wetland in South Sumatera reached 1,5 million hectares.
In 2015, the wetland areas which were suspected to burn into ground in South Sumatera reached 220 thousand hectares of the total wetland in the province. So, the jurisdiction certification, as it was said, becomes the solution to prevent the fire which keeps happening in every single year.
The fire also urged South Sumatera to improve the mainstay commodity cultivation practices – not only in palm oil. “We involve every side, the wetland experts and others to get the best solution. It is hoped, in the next year, there will be no fire,” Governor of South Sumatera, Alex Noerdin said.
What Alex believed to implement the jurisdiction certification policy, as the facts showed based on the previous policies, would be successful. For example, in 2002, his side successfully implemented free education program and in 2015, the free education program would be given up to the university, and the free medical treatment for the people in the province. “We believe, we could get the goal. We are not the first but will be the first finalists,” Alex said.
Many sides welcome what the Provincial Government of South Sumatera has done, such as, Palm oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (PFMA). The Agency thought, South Sumatera runs the jurisdiction certification well. It is reflected by the improvement in the smallholders’ palm oil area cultivation through the replanting program within the superior seeds. It is believed as the right move.(T2)
This article once published in InfoSAWIT, March 2016
