Ministry of Forestry Empowers Communities Through Social Forestry Programme

Penajam Paser Utara — The Ministry of Forestry is empowering communities through its Social Forestry Programme as one of its efforts to improve the economic welfare of communities living around forests, whilst also preserving forest sustainability.

“Community access to social forestry management reaches the grassroots level,” said Director General of Social Forestry at the Ministry of Forestry Catur Endah Prasetiani when asked about forest empowerment for residents in the Core Area of the Capital Government Centre (KIPP) of Nusantara Capital City (IKN), Sepaku, North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, on Monday.

The Social Forestry Programme must not stop at merely providing forest management access; rather, cooperation between the government, private sector, non-governmental organisations, and other partners is required.

She explained that the programme can support community economic empowerment through sustainable forest management for improved welfare and forest conservation.

“Integration of management from upstream to downstream, expansion of business opportunities, and strengthening community support also need to continue,” she said.

Social forestry access, she stated, is granted through 11,192 decision letters to approximately 1.4 million household heads across Indonesia.

“Specifically in East Kalimantan Province, social forestry approvals already granted have reached 360,947.82 hectares through 223 approvals to 23,451 household heads,” said Catur Endah Prasetiani.