Pagi hari, tim Patroli Hutan Desa Mantaren sudah menyusuri jalan setapak di kawasan hutan desa di wilayah ini yang berada di Kecamatan Kahayan Hilir, Kabupaten Pulang Pisau. Mereka bergerak di antara pohon dan kanal kawasan hutan. Pirit, Ketua Lembaga Pengelola Hutan Desa (LPHD) Mantaren I, masuk dalam tim patroli pagi itu. “Kalau hutan ini rusak, anak cucu kami hanya dengar cerita,” ucapnya sambil menunjuk ke arah hutan.
Sejak mendapat Surat Keputusan Hutan Desa pada 2012, pengelolaan hutan desa belum berjalan maksimal. Keterbatasan sumber daya menjadi salah satu faktor klasik yang terus menjadi perbincangan. Perubahan pengelolaan Hutan Desa mulai menunjukkan perkembangan pada 2022. Pertemuan warga dalam forum desa mulai membahas dan menata kembali batas wilayah, pembagian peran, dan rencana kerja. “Kalau kita tidak atur sekarang, nanti sulit untuk mulai,” ujar Pirit, dalam satu pertemuan.
Hutan Desa Mantaren I, Sei Taratai. Sumber foto: KPSHK.
Melalui musyawarah, masyarakat menyepakati langkah awal pengelolaan. Data wilayah dikumpulkan. Jalur hutan dikenali kembali. Warga mulai mencatat titik penting di dalam kawasan.
Kepercayaan kepada Pirit kemudian menguat. Ia dipilih sebagai Ketua LPHD Mantaren I. Struktur organisasi dibentuk. Setiap anggota memegang peran dalam kegiatan lapangan dan administrasi. Forum desa digunakan untuk menyusun rencana kerja dan mengambil keputusan bersama.
Pirit Sinar, Ketua LPHD Desa Mantaren I. Sumber foto: KPSHK.
Sejak itu, kegiatan di lapangan mulai berjalan. Tim patroli dibentuk dengan jumlah anggota lebih banyak. Pemantauan dilakukan secara berkala setiap bulan. “Kami turun rutin. Hutan harus dijaga sejak awal,” kata anggota patroli.
Sarana pendukung mulai dibangun. Sekat kanal dipasang untuk menahan air. Sumur bor digunakan sebagai sumber air saat darurat. Menara pantau digunakan untuk memantau titik rawan. Upaya ini berfungsi menjaga kondisi gambut dan mempercepat penanganan saat muncul api.
Dalam prosesnya, dinamika muncul. Perselisihan terjadi di kalangan warga, terutama yang belum terlibat menyampaikan keberatan. “Kenapa kami tidak ikut?” menjadi pertanyaan yang sering mereka lontarkan dalam pertemuan desa. Pirit memilih menyelesaikan persoalan melalui forum. Setiap masalah dibahas bersama. Keputusan mengikuti aturan yang telah disepakati. “Semua dibicarakan di forum. Kita cari jalan keluar bersama,” tegasnya.
Hingga 2025, kegiatan LPHD Mantaren I berjalan mulus. Patroli dilakukan secara berkala. Penanaman tetap berjalan. Program mengikuti rencana kerja yang telah disusun. Pirit tetap terlibat langsung dalam kegiatan lapangan. Ia hadir bersama tim patroli dan mengikuti jalur yang sama. “Ketua juga ikut turun. Ini kerja bersama,” ucapnya.
Kisah ini menunjukkan, pengelolaan hutan desa berjalan melalui proses. Peran pemimpin terlihat dari keterlibatan, pengambilan keputusan, dan cara menyelesaikan persoalan. Hutan Desa Mantaren I menjadi contoh praktik tata kelola di tingkat desa yang melibatkan masyarakat secara langsung.
Penulis: Alma
Editor: JW & Kiss
Early in the morning, the Mantaren Village Forest Patrol team explored the paths in the village forest area in this region, located in Kahayan Hilir District, Pulang Pisau Regency. They moved among the trees and forest canals. Pirit, Head of the Mantaren I Village Forest Management Institution (LPHD), was part of the morning patrol team. “If this forest is damaged, our children and grandchildren will only hear stories,” he said, pointing toward the forest.
Since the Village Forest Decree was issued in 2012, village forest management has not been optimal. Limited resources are a key factor that continues to be discussed. Changes in Village Forest management began to show progress in 2022. Community meetings in village forums began discussing and reorganizing boundaries, role allocations, and work plans. “If we don’t organize things now, it will be difficult to start later,” Pirit said during one meeting.
Mantaren I Village Forest, Sei Taratai. Photo source: KPSHK.
Through deliberation, the community agreed on initial management steps. Area data was collected. Forest paths were re-identified. Residents began to record important points within the area.
Trust in Pirit then strengthened. He was elected Head of the Mantaren I Village Forest Management Agency (LPHD). An organizational structure was established. Each member played a role in field activities and administration. A village forum was used to develop work plans and make joint decisions.
Pirit Sinar, Head of the Mantaren I Village LPHD. Photo source: KPSHK.
Since then, field activities have been underway. Patrol teams have been formed with increased numbers of members. Monitoring is carried out regularly every month. “We go out regularly. The forest must be protected from the start,” said a patrol member.
Supporting facilities began to be built. Canal blocks were installed to retain water. Boreholes were used as water sources in emergencies. Watchtowers were used to monitor vulnerable points. These efforts served to maintain peat conditions and expedite response to fires.
During the process, dynamics emerged. Disputes arose among residents, especially those who had not yet participated and expressed their objections. “Why aren’t we involved?” was a common question they raised at village meetings. Pirit chose to resolve issues through the forum. Every issue was discussed together. Decisions followed the agreed-upon rules. “Everything was discussed in the forum. We sought solutions together,” he emphasized.
Until 2025, the Mantaren I Village Forest Management Unit (LPHD) activities ran smoothly. Patrols were conducted regularly. Planting continued. The program followed the established work plan. Pirit remained directly involved in field activities. He attended with the patrol team and followed the same route. “The head also participated. It was a collaborative effort,” he said.
This story demonstrates that village forest management is a process. The leadership’s role is evident in their involvement, decision-making, and problem-solving. The Mantaren I Village Forest serves as an example of good governance practices at the village level that directly involve the community.
Writer: Alma
Editor: JW & Kiss
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