Minister of Forestry Hands Over 9 Social Forestry Decrees, 328 Families in North Sulawesi Now Have Forest Management Rights

As many as 328 families in North Sulawesi now officially have access to manage a 1,742-hectare forest area through the social forestry scheme. The handover of nine Decrees (SKs) was carried out directly by Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni in Darunu Tourism Village, Wori Subdistrict, North Minahasa Regency.

During the decree handover event, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni conveyed greetings from President Prabowo Subianto to the Forest Farmer Groups (KTH) in North Sulawesi. He stated that the handover of these SKs is part of the government’s commitment to expanding forest management access for the people.

“First, respectful greetings from President Prabowo Subianto. Yesterday, I was at the Palace finishing an event, and I mentioned that I would go to North Sulawesi to hand over the social forestry SKs,” said Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni on Thursday (9/4).

He emphasised that the long-awaited aspirations of the community have finally been realised with the receipt of the Social Forestry SKs. “What you have been waiting for all this time is now in your hands,” he said.

According to him, the social forestry policy represents a turning point in forest area management in Indonesia. Previously, communities were not allowed to enter forest areas, but now they are granted legal rights to manage them.

“The essence is that social forestry is given to the community so that the forest’s functions can be maximised. In the past, people were prohibited from entering the forest; now they are allowed, even to manage it legally for maximum utilisation,” he explained.

Raja Juli Antoni stressed that forest management should not only focus on economic aspects but also preserve environmental sustainability. He is optimistic that the community can uphold the trust given by the state by carrying out both functions in tandem.

“Insyaallah, we will prove that after receiving the SK, you can maximise it simultaneously—we can protect our forest,” he said.

“Guard what the state has given to all of you. Work together, collaborate so that the economic function increases, but at the same time, enhance the ecological function,” he concluded.