The Social Forestry Programme

Decree of the Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Number 9 of 2021 on Social Forestry Management is the basis for the implementation of the Social Forestry programme, which is aiming to provide access to the community in terms of forest management while also improving their economic conditions. Under this regulation, Social Forestry is defined as a sustainable forest management system that is implemented in areas of state forest or private forests/customary forests by local communities or Customary Law Communities working as primary actors in an effort to improve their welfare, environmental balance and socio-cultural dynamics through Village Forests, Forest Communities, Community Plantation Forests, Customary Forests and forestry partnerships.

The realization of the Social Forestry Program had reached approximately 5,318,627,20.97 Ha as of December 2022, with a total of 8,041 decrees (SK) being issued for forest area management rights for 1,188,498 family heads (KK). This data was presented at the recent 2030 Indonesian FOLU Net Sink Socialization event by the Director of Forest Utilization Plan Development for the Directorate-General of Sustainable Forest Management at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Dr. Ir. Drasospolino, M.Sc. The event was held in Papua Jayapura Province on 8 February 2023.

Image: The results of the Verification of Proposed Customary Forests in Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua
and in Jayapura Regency, Papua are presented on 18 October 2022 in Bogor
Photo: FORCLIME

Customary Forest

The book Social Forestry Survey and Index, Path to People's Welfare and Forest Conservation, which is published by the Katadata Insight Center, states that the current area of Customary Forest stands at 64% of the 7.4 million hectares of total customary territory. Customary Forest comprises a forest management scheme that is implemented by indigenous peoples in customary areas based on customary/local wisdom and values. Customary Forests can be handed over to Customary Peoples (MHA) whose existence is recognized by the state and then determined through a Certificate of Designation of Customary Forest Areas. As of October 2022, a total of 148,488 Ha of Customary Forest had been assigned to 105 customary communities, while the total area of indicative customary forest amounted to 1,090,754 Ha, as stated in Press Release of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) Number: SP. 296/HUMAS/PPIP/HMS.3/11/2022.

Customary Forest in Tanah Papua

In terms of the development of customary forests within Papua, seven proposals for Customary Forests made by Customary Peoples in Jayapura Regency, Papua and one proposal in Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua were verified in October 2022 by the Integrated Team at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia. This team comprised representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, experts from IPB University, the Maluku-Papua Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Agency, academics from Cenderawasih University, the Papua Provincial Forestry Service, the Jayapura Regency Environmental Service and representatives of the Customary Territory Registration Agency (BRWA).

At the Indigenous Peoples Congress in Jayapura, Papua on 24 October 2022, the Director-General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships at the KLHK symbolically handed over a number of customary forest decrees (SK) to community representatives at the Barnabas Youwe Stadium, Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua. During this event, seven Customary Forest Decrees were handed over for six Customary Forests in Jayapura Regency, namely: Marga Syuglue Woi Yansu – 15,602.96 hectares, Marga Yano Akrua – 2,177.18 hectares, Marga Yano Meyu – 411.15 hectares, Marga Yosu Desoyo – 3,392.97 hectares, Yano Wai clan – 2,593.74 hectares and Marga Takwobleng – 404.9 hectares. The other decree was for Marga Ogoney in Merdey District, Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua, which covers an area of 16,299 hectares. Through the establishment of these first seven Customary Forests in the Land of Papua, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry had already determined a total of 105 Customary Forests throughout Indonesia as of December 2022.

FORCLIME support

FORCLIME is a bilateral cooperation programme between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany that supports forestry development programmes that are being implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, including Social Forestry. Customary Forest is one of the Social Forestry schemes that is not only beneficial for the welfare of the Customary Law Community but also for preserving the local values and wisdom of the Customary Law Community.

FORCLIME supported the Directorate-General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships during the preparation and verification processes for customary forest proposals in Papua and West Papua between September and October 2022. The support that was offered took the form of the provision of experts and the implementation of technical verifications in locations that had been proposed as future customary forests in Tanah Papua.

In order to follow up on the results of this verification, the Directorate-General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships (PSKL), supported by FORCLIME, held an Expo of Verification Results for Proposed Customary Forests in Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua and Jayapura Regency, Papua on 18 October 2022 in Bogor, which was attended by relevant stakeholders. During this event, several important benefits of Customary Forests within the Land of Papua were addressed, including use as areas for the planting of sago, which is a staple source of food; utilization of resin wood sap for building houses; as hunting grounds for deer and pigs; as areas for the cultivation of red fruit, taro, bananas, kasbi, pineapples and vegetables; and as a habitat for white cuscus, white rats and birds of paradise. Based on the results of a technical verification in the field, the team submitted recommendations relating to the establishment of customary forest areas for the seven Customary Forest Communities to the Director-General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships.

In addition, FORCLIME also supported the drafting of the Draft Presidential Regulation on the Acceleration of Social Forestry in Indonesia during 2022. This Draft Presidential Regulation is currently in the process of further harmonization with other technical ministries, as well as with the Ministry of State Secretariat. However, the next stage of this process is administrative in nature and thus cannot be supported by FORCLIME.

The way forward

FORCLIME, despite its limitations as a project, will continue to support activities that relate to the Social Forestry programme, particularly within its working areas, specifically the Provinces of Central Sulawesi, Papua and Southwest Papua. Moving forward at the national level, FORCLIME will also continue to support the Directorate-General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships through dialogue relating to social forestry.

For further information please contact:
R. Rizka Dewi Zuleika, Junior Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management
Mohamad Rayan, Adviser for Crosscutting Issues and Conflict Management
Wandojo Siswanto, Manager of Strategic Area Forestry Policy

Created: 24 February 2023

To provide a general basis and set of guidelines that address the area of forestry planning, the Minister of Environment and Forestry issued Regulation No.P.41/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/2019, July 31, 2019.

Source: 2011 - 2030 National Forestry Plan (RKTN)

Article 1 of the 2011 - 2030 National Forestry Plan (RKTN) sets out macro directions for the utilization and use of forest areas for forestry and other development purposes on a national scale for a period of twenty years.

The vision contained under the National Forestry Plan is "Forest governance over the functioning of life support systems for the welfare of the people". This vision has been subdivided into the following missions: 1) Creation of adequate forest land; 2) Reform of forest governance; 3) Implementation of sustainable multi-benefit forest management; 4) Increase in community involvement and access to forest management; 5) Increase in the carrying capacities of the environment; and 5) Strengthening of the position of forestry at the national, regional and international levels.

Furthermore, Article 2 encompasses a number of directives that the 2011 - 2030 RKTN uses as a reference in relation to:
a. Preparation of Macro Plans for Forestry Operations;
b. Preparation of Provincial Level Forestry Plans;
c. Preparation of Forest Management Plans at the Forest Management Unit Level;
d. Preparation of Forestry Development Plans
e. Preparation of Forest Utilization Business Work Plans;
f. Coordination of long- and medium-term planning between sectors; and/or
g. Control of forestry development activities.

As stated in point (a) above, the RKTN has been translated/derived from various Macro Plans for Forestry Administration. Among the Macro Plans for Forestry Administration that are currently being prepared are the following:

Macro Plan for Forest and Watershed Land Rehabilitation

FORCLIME supported the Directorate of Planning for the Utilization and Establishment of Forest Management Areas (RPPWPH), as well as the Directorate General of Forestry Planning and Environmental Management (PKTL) under the framework of the preparation of a Macro Plan for Forest and Watershed Land Rehabilitation (RM-RHLDAS) in 2020. Moreover, a Public Consultation was held that specifically addressed the RM-RHLDAS was held on 8 December 2020. The final draft of the RM-RHLDAS is currently under review at the Legal Bureau of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and is scheduled to undergo a regulatory harmonization process in early 2023.

As stated on page 2 of the draft document, the RM-RHLDAS plays an important role in realizing coordination, integration and synergy between forestry development actors in relation to the implementation of forest and land rehabilitation through the restoration of related critical land and attempts to increase the carrying capacity of land under forest management. The RM-RHLDAS also plays a role in watershed restoration and management, as well as the optimization of community participation in forest and land rehabilitation activities.

The RM-RHLDAS sets out targets, policy directives and strategies for forest and land rehabilitation for the next 20 years and outlines the main directions and policies of the 2011 - 2030 RKTN, which involve maintaining the benefits offered by forests as a form of life support sustainability, as well as increasing forest and land productivity. This Macro Plan then is the basic instrument that underpins the implementation of frameworks, institutions and financing aimed at forest and land rehabilitation activities and defines Watersheds (DAS) as the main basis for planning analysis.

Macro Plan for the Conservation of Natural Biological Resources and Their Ecosystems

One of the forestry implementation plans that represents an elaboration of the RKTN is the Macro Plan for the Conservation of Natural Biological Resources and Their Ecosystems (RM-KSDAHE), which is used as a reference and set of directives by all parties during the carrying out of development activities, particularly as they relate to the conservation of living natural resources and their ecosystems.

The RM-KSDAHE establishes various directions, targets, policies and strategies for future implementation that address natural resource management and ecosystem conservation. This document will be used as a reference during the implementation of related activities at the national and regional levels. Furthermore, the macro plan outlines Indonesia's position on the international agenda and it is hoped that this RM-KSDAHE document will become the basis for the preparation of a Strategic Plan within the field of natural resource management and ecosystem conservation and will ultimately be used as a guide during efforts aimed at the protection of biodiversity across various regions.

The RM-KSDAHE is a derivative document of the National Level Forestry Plan (RKTN) 2011 - 2030 and will apply for a period of 20 years (2022 - 2042).

FORCLIME supports the Directorate of Planning for the Use and Establishment of Forest Management Areas (RPPWPH) under the framework for the preparation of a Macro Plan for the Conservation of Natural Biological Resources and Their Ecosystems (RM-KSDAHE) in 2021 and 2022. In March 2022, the Final Draft RM-KSDAHE was approved by the Director-General for KSDAE as the party responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies within the field of conservation management of natural resources and their ecosystems. This final draft of the RM-KSDAHE was then submitted to the Legal Bureau of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for further review and is scheduled to undergo a harmonization process in early 2023. FORCLIME supports the preparation of the RM-KSDAHE through expert facilitation, drafting meetings and technical input.

Macro Plan for Forest Utilization

Forest resources comprise national assets that must be used fairly and sustainably. The wealth of forest resources takes the form of goods and services that function to maintain and enhance production, as well as to realize various economic, ecological and social functions.

The utilization of forest resources needs to take the certainty of forest area management, potentials and efficiency into account, as well as increased added value, environmental sustainability and the dynamics of social and economic development needs. The high potential that forest resources possess must be able to contribute to realizing national goals, as mandated under the constitution, i.e. the greatest prosperity of the people.

The Forest Utilization Macro Plan (RM-PH) offers an important, strategic and more detailed elaboration and direction for the RKTN. The RM-PH will thus be used as a set of guidelines for forest utilization activities and is also the basic strategic instrument for forest use within Indonesia. This plan will also apply for a period of 20 years. The RM-PH set out directions for the future use of forests by taking into consideration the characteristics of the country’s islands and large islands, as well as the economic development potential of multi-function forests. This 20-year plan also addresses social welfare and support for Indonesian forestry at the national, regional and global levels.

FORCLIME supported the Directorate of Plans for the Utilization and Establishment of Forest Management Areas (RPPWPH) within the context of the preparation of a Forest Utilization Macro Plan (RMPH) during 2022. In December 2022, a Public Consultation on the Final Draft of the RMPH was held and the final draft of the RM-PH is currently in the process of being finalized by the team at the RPPWPH Directorate. FORCLIME is currently providing support for the facilitation of experts, drafting meetings and technical input.

The next step

The next step
As an official RKTN 2011 - 2030 directive, it is necessary to create an elaboration or to formulate a derivative of the RKTN in the form of a macro plan for forestry administration. Among the various Macro Plans for Forestry Implementation that have been and are currently being prepared are the RM-RHLDAS, RM-KSDAHE and the RM-PH, which are achievements of the Directorate-General of PKTL, particularly the Directorate of RPPWPH.

The Directorate-General of Forestry Planning and Environmental Management is set to hold a number of harmonization activities in relation to the above macro plans in early 2023. FORCLIME will support the finalization and development of these macro plans.

For further information please contact:
R. Rizka Dewi Zuleika, Junior Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management
Mohamad Rayan, Adviser for Crosscutting Issues and Conflict Management
Wandojo Siswanto, Manager of Strategic Area Forestry Policy

Created: 09 January 2023

Source: Sustainable Development Goals | United Nations

Ministry of Environment and Forestry wins 2022 SDGs Action Award

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) was chosen as the first winner of Indonesia's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Action Awards 2022 in the Ministries/Institutions category by the awards jury as a result of its consistent and continued innovation during the implementation of the mainstreaming of Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Public Relations Press Release Number: SP.325/HUMAS/PPIP/HMS.3/12/2022, the award was presented by the Head of PPN/Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Bambang Hendroyono, who was representing the LHK Minister at the opening of the Annual SDGs Conference 2022 or SAC 2022 on Thursday, 1 December 2022.

Indonesia's SDGs Action Awards 2022 were organized to show appreciation to various government and non-government actors who have consistently supported the implementation of SDGs/SDGs across Indonesia. The awards feature 11 categories, specifically ministries/agencies, provincial governments, district/city governments, universities, research institutes, large-scale business actors, small- and medium-scale business actors, civil society organizations, philanthropy, youth organizations and the media.

Furthermore, according to an official MoEF press release, Best Practices and innovative activities carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in order to support the achievement of SDGs involved three main activities, specifically:

1. Social Forestry for Poverty Alleviation (Goal 1: No poverty, Goal 2: No hunger, Goal 5: Gender equality, Goal 8: Labour absorption and economic growth, and Goal 10: Reducing inequality (Gini ratio),
2. The Climate Village Programme as the Action of Parties in Handling Climate Change (Goal 13: Handling Climate Change), and
3. The National Forest Monitoring System/SIMONTANA as an Instrument for Achieving Sustainable Land Ecosystems (Goals 15: Sustainable Land Ecosystems). All KLHK best practices and innovations were also carried under a framework of encouraging concrete green economy initiatives aimed at achieving the SDGs.

FORCLIME support

Since 2018, FORCLIME has supported the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in the mainstreaming of SDGs through activities such as the formation of working groups and the preparation of a roadmap for the contribution of programs/activities aimed at achieving the national SDGs. FORCLIME also supports several KLHK activities that involve socialization, the holding of and participation in various types of meetings that relate to SDGs, as well as the production of several media publications that invite various parties, both internal and external to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, to become involved in the SDGs agenda.

Roadmap for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's Sustainable Development Goals

In 2018, FORCLIME supported the preparation of the Roadmap for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's Sustainable Development Goals with reference to the 2018 - 2019 SDG National Action Plan (RAN) document, as an Attachment to Regulation of the Head of Bappenas Number 7 of 2018. The RAN document lists the following indicators for MoEF activities that are included under the seven SDGs, specifically Goal 3 (Healthy and Prosperous Life); Goal 6 (Clean Water and Adequate Sanitation); Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure); Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Settlements); Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production); Goal 13 (Tackling Climate Change); and Goal 15 (Terrestrial Ecosystems). Under the RAN SDGs, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is the main enabler in terms of achieving goals 12, 13 and 14, as well as being a co-supporter with other ministries of Goals 6 and 11.

The draft version of the 2018 - 2030 SDG Road Map of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry explains that the implementation of SDGs at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry represents an effort to achieve the adequate performance of all existing programs under the framework of sustainable development. In this regard, the discussion on the implementation of the SDGs by the MoEF and the contribution of the MoEF programmes to each SDG is described sequentially, both in terms of those listed under the 2015 - 2019 RAN SDGs and those not included under the RAN.

SDGs mainstreaming

In 2020, FORCLIME supported the creation of the 2019 MoEF SDGs Achievement Portrait book, which represents a part of the MoEF activities that are being aimed at achieving the mainstreaming of SDGs through the MoEF. Moreover, in 2021, FORCLIME supported the creation of the Essay Anthology Book Collection of 2021 Ministry of Environment and Forestry SDGs Writing, as well as the SDGs Scorecard Guidebook.

The Essay Anthology Book Collection of SDGs Writing for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry was published in 2021 and featured essays that were written by the winners of the writing competition and that address efforts to achieve the SDGs within the scope of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Meanwhile, the SDGs Scorecard Guidebook is a guide that is being circulated digitally and has become one of the instruments through which users (organizational units) at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry can explicitly disclose the detailed contributions of each Detailed Output (RO), as well as the various components that have been, are being and will be carried out with an eye on achieving the SDGs.

In 2022, in an effort to disseminate its achievements in relation to SDGs for 2021, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry held a series of meetings in Bogor, West Java from 13 - 14 March 2022. The implementation of these hybrid meetings (which were held both online and offline) was supported by FORCLIME and was opened by Prof. Dr. Winarni Dien Monoarfa on behalf of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. More than 400 participants attended the meetings, most of whom were representatives from ministry offices.

In September 2022, FORCLIME supported the Ministry of Environment and Forestry during preparations for the 2022 Indonesia SDGs Action Awards. This meeting was then followed up in November 2022 with a meeting that was held within the context of Strengthening the Mainstreaming of SDGs through the Coordination of Domestic Cooperation within the Scope of Environment and Forestry.

The way forward

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry was chosen as the first winner of Indonesia's SDGs Action Awards 2022 in the Ministry/Agency category. This is a significant achievement as maintaining the achievements of a first winner requires continuous hard work. However, the SDGs working group at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is working hard to consolidate its achievements by continuing to encourage the mainstreaming of SDGs at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry with the support of every organizational unit at the ministry, as well as parties that include FORCLIME-TC.

For further information please contact:
R. Rizka Dewi Zuleika, Junior Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management
Mohamad Rayan, Adviser for Crosscutting Issues and Conflict Management
Wandojo Siswanto, Manager of Strategic Area Forestry Policy

Created: 16 December 2022

Under good governance, the processes and institutional results produced by a government should meet the needs of society while making the best use of resources at their disposal (UNESCAP, 2018). To ensure this, good planning and budgeting mechanisms are essential preconditions for implementing government activities.

In Indonesia, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) is assigned to govern the state’s activities within the environment and forestry sectors, such as policy making, technical supervision, ecosystem and natural resources conservation, social forestry, environment partnership, climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental pollution control, etc. The success of the implementation of these activities partly depends on the workplans and budgeting that have been formulated in the institutional workplan (i.e. Renja K/L and RKP). The MoEF’s current mechanism for workplan and budgeting development was regulated under the Minister Regulation Number: P.01/Menhut-II/2006.

The forestry and environment sectors have been undergoing major changes in bureaucratic structures and policies in the last thirteen years and the regulation Number: P.01/Menhut-II/2006 needs to be revised accordingly. Thus, supporting the process of revising this regulation is considered crucial to improve the planning and budgeting system in the MoEF and to promote good governance.

The revision was also made necessary due to significance changes in the national regulations in the environment and forestry sector. Among others is the issuance of Law Number: 23/2014 on Regional Governance whereby forestry affairs, which previously were under the district governments, became part of the provincial governments’ responsibilities . Hence, the planning and budgeting of forestry activities at sub-national level is now also in the hand of the provincial governments. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Forestry were merged based on Presidential Regulation No. 16/2015 to become one new ministry, named the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. While, however, the Minister Regulation P.01/Menhut-II/2006 was only regulating the planning and budgeting mechanism for the Ministry of Forestry.

FORCLIME supported and involved in the process of evaluation and revision of Minister Regulation P.01/Menhut-II/2006 by providing both experts and expertise until its gazettement. At least three Focus Group Discussion workshops were held during the process supported by FORCLIME. The revised regulation was decreed on 26 August 2019 through the Minister of Environment and Forestry regulation number P.43/MENLHK/SETJEN/SET.1/8/2019 on the Mechanism of Workplan Preparation and Budgeting of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

The new ministry regulation is now in line with all government regulations related to ministerial workplan preparation and also streamlines the mechanisms of workplan preparation and budgeting in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The scope of the regulation is firstly, to coordinate the development and implementation of Budgeting Workplans (RKA) for the institutions within the Ministry of Environment and Forestry at national and sub-national level and, secondly, to develop and plan the DIPA. The DIPA is a document of budget implementation which serves as the basis for carrying out actions resulting in State expenditure and disbursement of funds from the Government budget, as well as further supporting documents on government accounting activities. Further, the regulation advises on steps of the workplan development in form of coordination forums at provincial, regional and central levels, the deliberation with parliament, trilateral meetings with the Ministry of National Development Planning and the Ministry of Finance; and finally, the national consultation and coordination meetings on budget planning. The output of the national consultation and coordination meeting then are RKA and DIPA for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

In 2020, it is planned that the dissemination and implementation of the revised regulation will be carried out by the Planning Bureau of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry with support from FORCLIME.

For further information, please contact:
Wandojo Siswanto, Senior Adviser, Forest & Climate Change Policy
Mohamad Rayan, Technical Adviser, Crosscutting Issues and Conflict Management

Created: 26 February 2020