Forestry Minister Expands Social Forestry: Targeting 1.4 Million Hectares of Customary Forest in Four Years

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has said the government continues to expand access to social forestry, including accelerating the recognition of customary forests. He has set a target of 1.4 million hectares of customary forest within four years.

“We remain committed to continually expanding access to social forestry — there are 8.3 million [hectares]. We will execute even more customary forest allocations. I am committed to delivering 1.4 million hectares over the next four years; currently we have around 360,000,” Raja Juli said in a statement on Thursday (19 February).

“We already have a roadmap for executing these 1.4 million hectares. God willing, if we have sufficient human resources and adequate funding, we will allocate even more customary forest to communities,” he added.

The remarks were delivered at the opening of a workshop titled ‘Moving from the Ground Up: Sowing Inclusive Social Forestry for Sustainable Forests and Prosperous Communities’ at Menara Peninsula, Jakarta. The event was also attended by the Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia, Rut Kruger Giverin.

According to Raja Juli, social forestry serves as an effective method for reducing poverty, particularly for communities living around forest areas.

Raja Juli said social forestry is the government’s strategy for achieving sustainable forests whilst simultaneously improving community welfare. He emphasised that success in protecting forests is largely determined by community involvement.

“The role of communities is unrivalled in safeguarding forests. Lessons from around the world demonstrate once again that the countries which succeed in protecting their forests are those capable of working together with communities, making forests accessible rather than distant from the people,” he said.

Furthermore, Raja Juli noted that an inclusive approach means communities are no longer positioned as parties to be kept away from forests, but rather as the state’s primary partners.

“Communities can utilise forests for their livelihoods, whilst simultaneously maintaining a commitment to preserving forests sustainably,” he said.