After almost two years of inactivity, the Central Sulawesi Social Forestry Working Group (Pokja PS) held a coordinating Workshop on the Evaluation and Optimization of the Role of the Social Forestry Working Group on 13 - 14 January 2022 in Palu, Central Sulawesi. The meeting, which was initiated by the Central Sulawesi Forestry Service and supported by FORCLIME, aimed to evaluate and optimize the role of Pokja PS in an effort to accelerate the achievements of various social forestry programmes that are being implemented across Central Sulawesi. The meeting, which was opened by the Head of the Forestry Service, Dr Ir. H. Nahardi, MM, IPU, also discussed the work programme of the Social Forestry Working Group (PS) and its implementation.

The meeting proved to be surprisingly dynamic after almost two years without any coordination and various topics were discussed including the following:
1. The importance of the role of social forestry (PS) in relation to the handling of tenure conflicts.
2. Pokja PS’s Business Development Division and a Mentoring Division, which are important bodies that require knowledge of the physical conditions of locations in order to facilitate communities.
3. Pokja PS is not only used as a means of access but also as a communication tool.
4. The need to create an information system and report or evaluate PS Pokja through various applications.
5. Mutual understanding between social forestry groups will be required in order to accelerate the development of social forestry group (KPS) businesses.
6. In the future, Pokja will address the implementation of empowerment and is expected to contribute to reducing poverty rates within the community in line with a directive issued by the Governor of Central Sulawesi.
7. The Center for Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership (BPSKL) is expected to be able to communicate with forest management units (KPH) in relation to mentoring programmes, as well as provide assistance in relation to tools/materials so that they are both appropriate and on target.

The follow-up to this workshop will address the Pokja PS membership for the 2022 - 2023 period; as well as the formulation of an Expert Team that will help to finalize an action plan document that will subsequently be submitted to the Governor; and finally, stakeholder mapping aimed at helping the Social Forestry Working Group achieve its work programmes.

“Synergy, communication, coordination and a clear delineation of roles between the central and local governments and community institutions as regards the management of Social Forestry are very much needed, especially for independent communities working through Pokja PS,” affirmed the Head of Extension for Community Empowerment and Customary Forests at the Forestry Service of Central Sulawesi, Ir. Mohammad Rizal Budjang, MM.

For more information, please contact:
Fikty Aprilinayati, Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management and Biosphere Reserve Management
Ismet Khaeruddin, Senior Advisor for the Biodiversity Focal Point for the KFW Forest Program 3 and Provincial Coordinator for Central Sulawesi