In commemoration of World Environment Day 2024, our attention is drawn to the importance of social forestry as a holistic solution to address the environmental and social challenges we face today. Social forestry, which involves the active participation of local communities in forest management as an effective approach to conserving natural resources and improving community welfare.
In Indonesia, the Social Forestry program has become a top priority for the government in an effort to maintain forest sustainability and support sustainable development. Through this scheme, communities are given legal access to manage forests responsibly, while they are also provided with training and technical support to ensure environmentally friendly forest management practices.
One of them is the Integrated Management Program for Peat Forest Ecosystems in Kahayan Hilir District, Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan Province, which aims to increase institutional capacity and community-based forest governance, implement a forest resource protection system through patrols and reducing the risk of forest and land fires, carry out forest and peatland restoration and improve community welfare and economy. This program is implemented by KPSHK (Consortium for Supporting Community Forest Systems) together with the Village Forest Management Institution (LPHD) in the Kahayan Hilir Peat Ecosystem Area in four Village Forests covering an area of 16,245 hectares. Community involvement in managing social forests can not only improve community welfare, but also increase forest conservation efforts. Regulatory support from the local government is also needed so that the objectives of social forestry can be more optimal, so collaboration between local governments, government institutions, and the community is the key to success in achieving sustainable development goals through the Social Forestry Program.
KPSHK together with social forestry groups in Kalimantan that are members of the Village Forest Management Institution in Gohong, Kalawa, Mantaren 1 and Buntoi have formed a Karhutla Patrol Team (TPK) and a Forest Patrol Team tasked with protecting and preventing village forests from the dangers of fire. Each village has a patrol team of 40 people with a total patrol team of 80 people.
One of the supports in this program is to empower the community’s economy through the Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS). Over time, the KUPS journey in Kahayan Hilir sub-district has experienced various dynamics, some have been able to survive and some have stagnated. There are 23 KUPS in 4 villages, such as the Gohong Rattan Weaving KUPS, Fishery KUPS, Kelulut Honey KUPS, Ecotourism KUPS, Rubber KUPS and so on.
These efforts are through training and mentoring facilities carried out by KPSHK together with LPHD. Training to strengthen the institutional capacity of LPHD and KUPS such as facilitating the preparation of business plans, basic management training, assessment of 23 KUPS, honey processing training, rattan weaving training, and so on. The activities carried out also open up new economic opportunities for the community, such as ecotourism, processing of non-timber forest products, and sustainable agriculture, thereby reducing dependence on environmentally damaging practices.
In addition, planting, reforestation and restoration activities for 4 village forests have been carried out with a total of 88,619 seedlings planted to mitigate climate change. Village forest patrol and planting activities also maintain the function of the forest as a carbon dioxide absorber and maintain ecosystem balance.
Another case that is currently happening is related to land conflicts that the Papuan forest, especially in Boven Digoel, covering an area of 36,094 ha, will be cleared and built into an oil palm plantation by PT Indo Asiana Lestari. Government policy is very important in determining the sustainability of the rights of indigenous peoples from the Awyu and Moi tribes.
Referring to the case, the government should revoke the palm oil company’s permit and provide recognition of customary areas and the determination of customary forests to prevent more severe conflicts. For this reason, social forestry is the key and conflict resolution to determine customary forests and support indigenous communities to maintain and manage customary forest areas. The All Eyes On Papua case is an effort to increase awareness of the government, society, and other parties about the importance of protecting forests and recognizing customary areas managed by indigenous communities.
In commemoration of World Environment Day 2024, by involving communities in forest management through social forestry, we are not only preserving the environment, but also building a future for future generations and supporting sustainable economic development for local communities.
Author: Alma Tiara
Editor: Joko Waluyo
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