Ministry of Forestry: Social forestry prioritises conservation and welfare

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Forestry has emphasised that the social forestry programme prioritises the preservation of nature and the environment, as well as the welfare of communities within and around forest areas. In ensuring that the programme runs in line with both economic improvement and forest conservation, the Ministry of Forestry has designated Social Forestry as a National Strategic Programme, said Head of the Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau Ristianto Pribadi, when contacted in Jakarta on Friday. He added that it is specifically positioned as a primary solution for alleviating poverty and fostering community groups. Ristianto further stated that the ministry also prioritises granting legal access to areas with higher poverty rates as a form of affirmative action for economic equity. This is accompanied by the provision of productive economic tools and directly connecting groups with off-takers (ready buyers). While firmly upholding the principle of ‘Sustainable Forests, Prosperous Communities’, Ristianto said the ministry implements standard on-the-ground measures, including a mandatory agroforestry pattern. This agroforestry requirement means communities must plant a combination of forest trees and high-value agricultural crops, so that forest cover function is maintained while residents harvest the yields. ‘We direct forest utilisation towards non-timber potential, such as intercropping cultivation, optimising non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and developing environmental services in the form of community-based ecotourism,’ he stated. He added that all these activities are strictly supervised through monitoring systems, periodic evaluations, and assistance from forestry extension workers. The Ministry, Ristianto said, will not hesitate to evaluate or revoke management approval permits if legal violations such as illegal forest conversion or area destruction are found. ‘Through the long-term commitment outlined in the 2025-2029 Roadmap, the presence of the Task Force for Accelerating the Designation of Customary Forests, and these integrated measures, we hope that Indonesia’s forests will not only remain the sustainable lungs of the world but also become a source of livelihood that justly and sustainably prospers surrounding communities,’ he explained.