One of the main focuses of the integrated peat forest ecosystem management program is carrying out patrol activities, either forest patrols or Forest and Land Fire (Karhutla) patrols. The implementation is routine patrol activities carried out every month by each LPHD Forest Patrol Team (TPH).
The Forest Patrol Team has the task of protecting village forests. TPH carries out its duties and functions to protect and secure Village Forests in Village Forest areas through forest patrol activities. The aim is to achieve optimal protection and conservation functions.
Joko is the chairman of the Buntoi Village TPH who enjoys traveling while patrolling the village forest. According to him, the forest is a place of peace and calm, because this is one of the reasons Joko took part in this program to be in the forest more often.
“Our team usually stays overnight in the forest, precisely at the border location, carrying out monitoring to cover the intentions of a person or group to carry out disturbances such as illegal logging in village forests,” explained Joko.
He continued, forest security patrols were carried out to prevent forestry crimes, especially encroachment, forest logging/wood theft, forest fires, animal hunting and occupation of areas in village forests.
“Activities in the forest also start with maintaining patrol routes or river routes to make it easier to access alkon or ces through,” said Joko
The coordinate points and patrol routes are in the form of SHP and Avenza Map. Apart from that, the patrol team also records data/information on vegetation and animals in the village forest area. Usually the team carries out patrol activities in the village forest for 8 days.
“We record these findings for animal or plant observation reports,” he continued. The patrol team also observes infrastructure along the patrol route such as canal blocking, drilled wells, embungs or bejes, etc.
“Patrol activities require coordination between the patrol team and the government, when we encounter illegal loggers, we can only warn them,” said Joko
According to him, this becomes an obstacle when TPH warns individuals or groups not to enter village forests with the aim of illegal logging or stealing wood. Illegal loggers will ask for an official TPH assignment letter from the government. Therefore, patrols must have a permit so that the patrol team can be legally protected and TPH can be freer to strictly prohibit illegal loggers.
Ensuring that monitoring activities in forest areas remain effective and optimal, the team continues to collect smart patrol data and information during village forest guard patrols.
The preservation of village forests can be maintained for the benefit of the community and the sustainability of the ecosystem through various preventive and monitoring measures carried out by forest patrol teams.
Author: Alma
Editor: Aris
Source:
Interview with TPH Buntoi leader
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