Awal mula perhutanan sosial di Kabupaten Pulang Pisau dimulai sejak 2012, saat beberapa desa memperoleh Surat Keputusan (SK) pengelolaan. Meski begitu, program ini baru aktif berjalan sekitar 2019 hingga 2020. Desa Gohong, Mentaren I, Buntoi, dan Kalawa tercatat sebagai pelaksana utama. Peran Konsorsium Pendukung Sistem Hutan Kerakyatan (KPSHK) cukup krusial karena mendampingi Lembaga Pengelola Hutan Desa (LPHD) serta Kelompok Usaha Perhutanan Sosial (KUPS) untuk mengelola hutan dengan lebih terarah.
Wakil Bupati Pulang Pisau, Ahmad Jayadikarta, menekankan pentingnya kebersamaan. “Perhutanan sosial bukan sekadar urusan lingkungan, melainkan juga pintu menuju kesejahteraan masyarakat. Karena itu, pemerintah daerah siap bersinergi demi menjaga dan memanfaatkan potensi hutan desa yang kita miliki,” ucapnya.
Manfaat program ini semakin terasa di lapangan. Ketua LPHD Kalawa, Bandi, menceritakan bagaimana masyarakat desa kini punya pandangan baru terhadap hutan. “Dulu kawasan hutan sering dipandang rawan kebakaran dan perambahan. Sekarang, berkat pendampingan, kami bisa memanfaatkannya untuk usaha produktif mulai dari anyaman rotan, madu kelulut, hingga perikanan,” katanya.
Sejak 2022, program Pengelolaan Terpadu Ekosistem Hutan Gambut (PTEHG) memperkuat langkah perhutanan sosial di Pulang Pisau. Tiga fokus utama dijalankan, yaitu membangun sekat kanal untuk menjaga kelembapan lahan, menanam kembali jenis pohon kehutanan dan tanaman multiguna, serta memberdayakan masyarakat sekitar hutan. “Kehadiran KPSHK memberi harapan besar, karena warga bukan hanya menjaga hutan, tetapi juga mendapatkan penghidupan darinya,” tambah Bandi.
Kendala tetap ada di tengah berbagai capaian. Hingga kini, belum tersedia anggaran khusus dari pemerintah daerah maupun provinsi untuk mendukung program ini. Ketua LPHD Mentaren I, Pirit, menegaskan, “Kalau semua pihak punya persepsi yang sama, perhutanan sosial akan lebih kuat. Kami butuh dukungan nyata dan pendampingan jangka panjang, baik dari pemerintah maupun mitra LSM.”
Selain itu, kondisi geografis juga cukup menantang. Akses ke hutan desa sering dipengaruhi pasang surut kanal. Saat musim kemarau, perjalanan menuju lokasi menjadi lebih sulit, sehingga kegiatan di lapangan sering terkendala.
Harapan besar tetap terletak pada komitmen bersama. Dukungan kebijakan dan pendanaan dari pemerintah akan mempercepat pengembangan, termasuk potensi ekowisata dan jasa lingkungan berbasis hutan desa. Wakil Bupati menutup dengan optimisme, “Hutan harus memberi manfaat, bukan masalah. Selama kita bekerja bersama, Pulang Pisau bisa menjadi contoh baik bagaimana hutan desa dikelola untuk masa depan.” Perhutanan sosial di Pulang Pisau sedang menapaki jalan panjang. Tantangan tidak sedikit, tetapi tekad masyarakat dan sinergi berbagai pihak membuat cahaya harapan selalu terbuka.
Penulis: Salim
Editor: Alma
The beginnings of social forestry in Pulang Pisau Regency began in 2012, when several villages received management decrees (SK). However, the program only became fully operational around 2019 and 2020. Gohong, Mentaren I, Buntoi, and Kalawa villages were listed as the primary implementers. The role of the Community Forestry System Supporting Consortium (KPSHK) is crucial, as it assists the Village Forest Management Institution (LPHD) and the Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) in more targeted forest management.
The Deputy Regent of Pulang Pisau, Ahmad Jayadikarta, emphasized the importance of collaboration. “Social forestry is not just an environmental issue, but also a gateway to community well-being. Therefore, the local government is ready to work together to protect and utilize the potential of our village forests,” he said.
Wakil Bupati Pulang Pisau, H. Ahmad Jayadikarta. Sumber Foto: K.P.SHK.
The benefits of this program are increasingly being felt on the ground. Bandi, Head of the Kalawa Forest Management Agency (LPHD), recounted how the village community now has a new perspective on the forest. “Forest areas used to be often seen as prone to fires and encroachment. Now, thanks to assistance, we can utilize them for productive businesses ranging from rattan weaving, stingless bee honey, to fisheries,” he said.
Since 2022, the Kahayan Hilir Initiative (IKH) program has strengthened social forestry initiatives in Pulang Pisau. Three main focuses are being implemented: building canal barriers to maintain land moisture, replanting forestry species and multipurpose crops, and empowering communities surrounding the forest. “The presence of the KPSHK provides great hope, because residents are not only protecting the forest, but also earning a living from it,” Bandi added.
Obstacles remain amidst these achievements. To date, there has been no dedicated budget from the regional or provincial governments to support this program. The Head of the Mentaren I LPHD, Pirit, emphasized, “If all parties share the same perception, social forestry will be stronger. We need real support and long-term mentoring, both from the government and NGO partners.”
Furthermore, the geographical conditions are quite challenging. Access to the village forest is often affected by the ebb and flow of the canals. During the dry season, travel to the location becomes more difficult, often hindering field activities.
Great hope remains in a shared commitment. Policy support and funding from the government will accelerate development, including the potential for ecotourism and environmental services based on village forests. The Deputy Regent concluded with optimism, “Forests should provide benefits, not problems. As long as we work together, Pulang Pisau can be a good example of how village forests are managed for the future.” Social forestry in Pulang Pisau is on a long journey. The challenges are numerous, but the community’s determination and the synergy of various parties keep the light of hope always bright.
Writer: Salim
Editor: Alma
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