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Coordinating Minister Luhut during a working visit to the Hulu DAS Citarum in Ciminyak Village, Kec. Cililin, Kab. West Bandung - 

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves), Luhut B. Pandjaitan conveyed the problem of climate change and air pollution which had become serious. Moreover, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts that there will be no rain at all this month, at least in Jakarta.

To anticipate this, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs said that steps were needed to reduce deforestation, handle critical land and waste.

"Because climate change is big, this is our enemy. Maybe if the cool language is war against pollution or the war against pollution. Don't cut trees or deforestation anymore. Indonesia was one of the best countries to reduce deforestation last year and I I think this is hard work from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. We are also one of the countries in the world and the best in handling pollution, handling this waste. We will take all integrated steps to reduce (pollution)," said Coordinating Minister Luhut during a working visit to the Hulu DAS Citarum in Ciminyak Village, Kec. Cililin, Kab. West Bandung on Tuesday (29/8).

During his working visit this time, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs conducted a review of the critical land management program carried out vegetative and technical civil forest and land rehabilitation activities both inside forest areas and outside state forest areas to overcome the impacts of climate change, one of which is in the Upper Watershed Citarum in Ciminyak Village, Kec. Cililin, Kab. West Bandung.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday, this is one of the nursery locations for the cooperation between the Deputy for Environment and Forestry Management of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries with Astrazeneca and Trees4trees on Support for Reforestation and Revitalization of Critical Land in the Citarum Watershed. This program is part of the AZ Forest global program, to plant 50 million trees worldwide, and nearly half (20 million trees) will be planted in Indonesia.

This program also supports the West Java Government's initiatives for reforestation and revitalization of the Citarum River as well as a sustainable investment agenda to mitigate annual forest fires, landslides and climate change.

Coordinating Minister Luhut added that the AZ Forest Program was expected to ensure the maintenance and sustainable growth of the trees planted. Monitoring mechanisms are needed to track progress and ensure the success of rehabilitation efforts.

"Rehabilitation of critical land should be able to provide incentives to the local community and the trees planted have economic value, both timber and fruit trees through agroforestry practices. Agroforestry practices can provide multiple benefits in the form of environmental restoration and economic sustainability. The AZ Forest Program in Tanjung Puting so that they can be transferred to the Citarum Watershed. Success in planting 20 million trees will be able to rehabilitate and revitalize critical land outside the Citarum Watershed forest area, preserve water sources as well as improve the welfare of the people," explained Coordinating Minister Luhut.

Coordinating Minister Luhut then continued his visit to the Cicukang Oxbow Integrated Waste Management Site (TPST). Garbage is currently a crucial issue faced by Indonesia which must be resolved thoroughly and quickly.

Moreover, the fire incident at the Sarimukti TPA, Bandung, West Java, is a reminder that we can no longer rely on old patterns. Waste must be managed in an integrated manner from upstream to downstream and sustainably, and as much as possible to be used as a new economic resource.

"Right now we are taking every step to deal with this waste, earlier with the Governor and the Regent here (TPST Cikukang Oxbow) they have made RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) that seems successful. From sector 7 they have innovations, working with the center Making the waste process with a good standard can take 1 hour and 1 ton. Governor Ridwan said we wanted to try to make this machine per village or sub-district. So, later we will try to develop this innovation," added Coordinating Minister Luhut.

Coordinating Minister Luhut explained that this year and next year, must be prepared to anticipate the impact of climate change in Indonesia with a longer and drier dry season, as well as lower rainfall. In August-September it is predicted that El-Nino will reach a peak with weak to moderate intensity.

This has the potential to impact water availability, agricultural productivity, and food security. The impact of climate change and El-Nino will undoubtedly affect the Citarum watershed, so anticipatory steps are needed such as early warning, rainwater collection, optimal dam management, application of Weather Modification Technology, and promotion of rainfed agriculture and drilled wells.

"Through the Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWMP) Program with the support of the World Bank in the Citarum Watershed, waste processing facilities (TPST) have been built. It is hoped that this can be managed and operated in a sustainable manner. For waste management in the Greater Bandung Area, it is hoped that the Governor can speed up the process "Construction of PSEL in Legok Nangka. The existence of PSEL is not only a step forward in overcoming the waste problem, but also makes a bigger contribution in dealing with the increasing volume of waste," concluded the Coordinating Minister Luhut//VOI