Mount Merapi forest area is state forest, value and strategic importance because it serves as a water catchment area for the benefit of the surrounding area and is a type of tropical forests with conditions very active volcano. The forest area was formerly a wholly-region serves as a protected forest, except for an area of ​�.5 hectares located in Sleman district has been designated as a Nature Reserve Plawangan Turgo area of ​� ha and as Forest Park Nature established by decree of the Minister of Agriculture No.155/Kpts / Um/8/1975. Protected Forest areas that are in the local administrative area covers 1,461 hectares.

Forest Area designation as a National Park of Mount Merapi  in accordance with the Decree of the Minister of Forestry. 134/Menhut-II/2004 about changes Function Protected Forest Areas, Nature Reserves and Nature Park on Mount Merapi Forest Group of ?6,410 ha, located in the district of Magelang, Boyolali and Klaten, Central Java Province, as well as Sleman, Special Region Yogyakarta, Indonesia