East Java Books Rp644.03 Billion in Forest Farmer Group Transactions, Highest Nationally

Surabaya (ANTARA) - East Java Province recorded a Forest Farmer Group (KTH) Economic Transaction Value (NTE) of Rp644.03 billion in the first semester of 2026, the highest nationally with a 45.43 per cent contribution to the national total.

“Alhamdulillah, East Java has once again become the highest national contributor for the KTH Economic Transaction Value. This proves that environmental preservation and improving community welfare can go hand in hand through strengthening the social forestry-based economy,” said East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa in a statement received in Surabaya on Saturday.

Based on data from the Ministry of Forestry as of 30 June 2026, this achievement increased compared to the same period in 2025, which was recorded at Rp612.03 billion.

Khofifah stated that this achievement shows community-based forest management can improve the welfare of communities living around forest areas while simultaneously strengthening environmental conservation.

Various non-timber forest product commodities, agroforestry, multipurpose plants, environmental services, and ecotourism development have now become new sources of income driving the economy of communities around forest areas.

Khofifah explained that the increase in the Forest Farmer Group Economic Transaction Value was driven by the strengthening of farmer group institutions, increased business capacity, intensive assistance from forestry extension workers, and wider market access for community forest products.

“We want the added value of forest products to continue to increase so that the economic benefits are felt more widely by the community. In this way, protecting the forest is no longer seen as a burden, but as a source of shared prosperity,” she said.