The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts that 60 sub-districts will be flooded around January - March.
"We admit that the level of forest destruction in Bengkulu is quite high.
In fact, almost 13 percent of the total forest cover was damaged in the previous year.
"So, when the rainy season falls with high intensity, the flooding conditions can be very large," explained Rohidin, Thursday 1 February 2024.
In the future, in anticipating this damage, the Bengkulu Provincial Government (Pemprov), Rohidin said, will create a program
Together with the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Watershed Management Agency (BPDAS), to plant trees.
Because currently, there are millions of seeds ready to be planted. Including those in the Environmental UPTD.
Apart from that, added Rohidin, with these efforts, it is also hoped that it can minimize or suppress damage to forest areas.
"We also hope that the active role of all elements of society can protect forest areas.
"This also includes improving forest cover, by encouraging the planting of seeds or reforestation," appealed Rohidin.
Meanwhile, Acting Head of the Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) of Bengkulu Province, Safnizar, S.Hut, said
Based on Decree (SK) 6608/MENLHK-PKTL/KUA/PLA.2/10/2021, the forest area of Bengkulu is 884,356.01.
This means around 45.50 percent of the area of Bengkulu Province, which covers an area of around 1.9 million.
"This area is divided into several other types of forest. Starting from conservation forests, production forests, customary forests, and others," he said.
Among these types of forests, the largest are in conservation areas.
So it can be concluded that 45 percent of Bengkulu Province is forest area.