BALI REVITALIZES FORESTS IN FACING IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Denpasar, Dec 17 (ANTARA) - Bali is determined to turn its 130,686 hectares forests which cover 22.6 percent of its land into green and well preserved areas in facing climate change.

Head of the Land and Forest Rehabilitation Agency of the Bali Forestry Office, Agung Ngurah Buana said here Wednesday that the areas were expected to protect the economy of the local population.

Addressing a workshop on Bali's Action Plan in facing the impact of the climate change he said that it would take everyone's commitment and concrete action to solve the impacts of the global climate change.

Bali's land covered 563,666 hectares, of which 22.6 percent consisted of forested land, including 55,313 hectares of arid land.

"The land in a critical condition and needs serious handling to prevent floods, landslides and other natural disasters," he said.

The Bali Forestry Office provided 2.1 million trees in 2008 as an effort to support an ongoing reforestation program.

Since the beginning of the rainy season in November and December 2008 the seedlings were planted in various places in Bali involving the local population, government and other sides.

The effort was also to support the national movement of forest and land rehabilitation in Bali as well as to lower global warming.

The movement which was launched in 2004, had successfully revitalized 28,520 hectares arid land inn and outside of the forested land.

In this way, only 26,793 hectares of arid land were left for cultivation in the coming years.