Introductory Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at Limited Meeting (via video conference) on Social Forestry-Based Community Economic Empowerment, Tuesday, 3 November 2020 at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon,
May peace be upon us all,

Distinguished Vice President, Ministers.

The social forestry program aimed to empower community economy has been running for six years. First, from the target of 12.7 million hectares by 2024, as of September this year, the realization has reached 4.2 million hectares. We still have a lot of works 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.

Second, I also want to remind you that the social forestry program does not only a matter of granting permits to the community, issuing the permits to the community, but the most important thing is that it must be followed by supervisions and assistance for further programs so communities around the forest have the capability in managing the permits. (The capability in managing) the social forestry business aspect does not only consist of agroforestry but also ecotourism, agrosilvopastoral, bioenergy, non-timber forest products, and community’s timber industry businesses. All of these can bring benefits and can make the communities prosperous, but once again, the supervisions and assistance are necessary.

Third, regarding the development of this business aspect. It must be carried out in an integrated manner, starting from the granting of permits, preparation for production facilities and infrastructure to the training programs. I think if we can realize this, I am convinced that this Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) will be well-developed. But once again, we must put our focus on this part, and I hope that with this assistance, more KUPS will emerge and become exemplary groups for the purpose of benchmarking for other groups this year or next year.

That concludes my remarks.
I thank you.

Translated by Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by M. Ersan Pamungkas