Six Social Forestry Decrees in Lombok handed over, Forestry Minister: President Prabowo's mandate for the people
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni handed over six Social Forestry Decrees to six Forest Farmer Groups (KTH) on Lombok Island in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). He stressed that the accelerated process of social forestry licensing is an instruction directly from President Prabowo Subianto.
The six decrees cover one KTH in West Lombok and five KTHs in East Lombok, with a total managed area of 560.57 hectares, to be used by 411 households. Minister Antoni noted that the ease of issuing licenses is not solely due to ministry policy, but to the strong commitment of President Prabowo Subianto. “The Secretary General says that the fast licensing process for social forestry is not because of the minister, but because of the president, President Prabowo Subianto. Greetings from President Prabowo to you all, the farmer groups,” he told the beneficiaries in Lombok on Saturday (7/3/2026).
He explained that the six decrees are part of the government’s effort to provide legal access for communities to manage forest areas productively and sustainably. The total area handed over is 560.57 hectares and is expected to uplift the welfare of those living around the forests.
According to Minister Raja Juli Antoni, the legal access granted to communities represents a direct mandate from President Prabowo to ensure forests are managed productively while remaining conserved. He urged the forest farmers to protect and implement the mandate. “As I have said, this is a mandate from President Prabowo Subianto to the people so that those granted legal access can maximise the mandate and become more productive, for example by planting coffee, cocoa, or kemiri and other crops,” he said.
He added that forest management through the social forestry scheme not only boosts the local economy but also forms an important part of the national food security programme. “This is part of our effort to improve the welfare of the community while at the same time supporting our self-sufficiency in food, while also preserving our forests,” he continued.
“We have been ordered by President Prabowo to speed up the issuance of social forestry Decrees to boost community welfare while protecting our environment and our forests to be more sustainable,” he emphasised.