Gov’t Implements Social Forestry Program to Empower Community Economy

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung attends the Limited Meeting on Social Forestry-Based Community Economic Empowerment via video conference, Tuesday (3/11). (Photo by: Public Relations/Agung)

In a bid to empower community economy, the Indonesian Government implemented Social Forestry Program.

The program has been running for six years and resulted in 4.2 million hectares realization this September. For the record, the Government has set a target of 12.7 million hectares by 2024.

“We still have a lot of work to be done in the next four years, more or less 8 million (hectares).  This means that there was indeed a large accumulative increase in the first five years, but there are still over 8 million hectares left that we need to complete,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said at the Limited Meeting on Social Forestry-Based Community Economic Empowerment via video conference from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province, Tuesday (3/11).

Furthermore, President Jokowi stated, the social forestry program must not stop at granting permits to the community. The program, he said, must be followed by assistance for further programs to improve the economy of communities around the forest.

“This is to make sure that the community has the right ability to manage after the granting of permits. (The ability to manage) the social forestry business aspect, which does not only consist of agroforestry but also ecotourism, agrosilvopastoral, bioenergy, non-timber forest products, and community’s timber industry businesses.

The President added that assistance related to the development of this business aspect must be carried out in an integrated manner, starting from the granting of permits, preparation for production facilities and infrastructure, to the trainings.

“If we can realize this, I am convinced that this Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) will be well-developed. We must put our focus on this part,” President Jokowi stated.

The President also expressed hope that with this assistance, KUPS will emerge and be exemplary groups. (FID/UN)

Translated by: Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by: Mia M. Bonaedy