JAKARTA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government plans to plant over five million trees in the degraded forest of Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau province, as well as facilitate the relocation of residents currently living within the park's territory, the Ministry of Forestry announced on Tuesday.
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni stated that the government has already prepared land for relocating affected communities from within the national park.
"The affected communities are expected to relocate independently, but the government has also prepared relocation land for these residents," the minister was quoted by local media.
According to the minister, the government will reforest 7,000 hectares of former illegal palm oil plantations within the park with fast-growing tree species.
"For the restoration of the ecosystem in Tesso Nilo National Park, we have coordinated with the private sector and partners," he added.
The Tesso Nilo National Park spans 81,739 hectares and has experienced severe degradation over the past two decades, primarily due to the settlement of illegal immigrant communities, according to the Ministry. ■
