Jakarta, Jan. 27 -- Indonesia has identified nearly 4,800 hectares of forestland in three provinces as potential relocation sites for residents displaced by floods and landslides last November, the forestry minister said Tuesday.

The land spans Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra and is meant to plug a shortfall in areas already designated for post-disaster housing.

"We have identified around 4,778 hectares of potential land for relocation, including about 1,039 hectares in Aceh, some 3,577 hectares in North Sumatra and roughly 162 hectares in West Sumatra," Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said.

He said the mapping was carried out because areas classified as Other Use Areas (APL), which can legally host settlements, may not be suff...