'€œWe are studying forest problems one at a time and one of issues we are paying close attention to is forest permit procedures,'€ she said during a visit to the Java Eco-region Center on Jl. Ring Road Barat, Yogyakarta, on Wednesday afternoon.

The minister said it took time to process a forestry permit and with the new regulation, a permit could be issued within 12 days. '€œIt will be completed within less than one week if possible,'€ she said.

Siti went on to say that Indonesia had a huge production of quality non-wood forest products, but that forest products had always been identified as wood and deforestation had therefor continued.

'€œIndonesia has a tremendous potential of quality non-wood forest products, such as forest honey. Our forest honey ranks second in the world and is awaited by the international market,'€ she said.

The minister further said that Arwana fish from the Kalimantan hinterland was of good quality and of high value. Silk and bamboo were other non-timber forest products that had yet to be fully tapped.

Siti declined to give details on when the new regulation would be issued. '€œWe are still focusing on institutional management following the merger of the Environment Ministry and Forestry Ministry under the Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo and Jusuf Kalla administration.

She said the ministry was also evaluating ongoing programs such as the One Billion Trees program that had run for seven years.

'€œMore than 6.2 billion trees have been planted over seven years,'€ said Siti, adding that for the program, the ministry prioritized critical areas such as river basins. (ebf)(++++)

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