Jakarta, April 29 -- The Environment and Forestry Ministry emphasized that protecting and managing forests sustainably is one of the efforts that can ensure water storage and quality.

M. Saparis Soedarjanto, the ministry's Director of Planning and Supervision of Drainage Basin, explained that the rise in population will increase the intervention in forest areas that have water-regulating functions.

"Natural forests increase water retention, while man-made solutions like reservoirs and dams also play a role," he remarked during a discussion of the 32nd World Water Day in Jakarta on Monday.

The combination of these two methods is important, as sustainable forests can be a solution to water quality issues, he added.

"If we develop forest...