The West Papua Forestry Service, working in conjunction with Production Forest Management Units (KPHP) in Tambrauw and South Sorong, has developed a programme aimed at the empowerment of traditional forest communities (masyarakat hutan adat - MHA) in and around forest areas in order to realize the vision and mission of the conservation province/district of West Papua. The community empowerment programme is being implemented through the social forestry scheme and Forest Farmers Groups (KTH). According to the Head of the Forestry Service, Mr. Runaweri, the traditional forest communities that are currently engaging in activities in forest management unit areas should increase their capacities as regards the management of their organizations, plants and businesses through technical guidance, training, comparative studies and other initiatives. Ultimately, these communities should be able to support sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation practices across West Papua.

The West Papua Forestry Service recommended that several villages should be analysed more deeply in order to identify their potentials and any need to increase the capacity of KTHs so that they can be synergized with FORCLIME. Field surveys were carried out in 10 villages in November 2021 and these were followed by discussions with the Head of the West Papua Forestry Service in December 2021. Four villages have now been selected, specifically Haha Village in Distrik Saremuk and Wendi Village in Distrik Sawiat in South Sorong Regency; as well as Emmaus Village in Distrik Sausapor and Bikar Village in Distrik Bikar in Tambrauw Regency. These four villages will be targeted for the implementation of joint programmes in conjunction with the West Papua Forestry Service and FORCLIME. Said programmes will focus on activities relating to the development potential of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and environmental services, the fostering of KTHs and encouraging the implementation of social forestry programmes, including local initiatives that relate to customary forests in the KPHPs of Tambrauw and Sorong Selatan.

Various strategic issues were discussed during the meeting with the Head of the Forestry Service including FORCLIME’s supports for a number of different activities during 2022, such as:
1. Support for the West Papua Forestry Service as regards the dissemination of forestry policies in the wake of the issuance of Law No. 11/2020 on Job Creation, particularly policies that relate to Government Regulation (PP) No. 23/2021 on the Management of Forestry; Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry No. 8/2021 on Forest Management, the Preparation of Forest Management Plans and Forest Utilization in Protection Forests and Production Forests; and Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry No. 9/2021 on Social Forestry Management.
2. Support for the activities of the Acceleration of Social Forestry Working Group in West Papua.
3. Support for FMUs as regards the preparation of a revised long-term forest management plan (RPHJP) document.
4. Support for KTHs within four selected villages regarding institutional management, area management and NTFP business management, including environmental services.

For more information, please contact:
Nita Yohana, Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for West Papua Province
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces