The Makassar Environmental and Forestry Education and Training Agency (BD LHK Makassar) held a recent discussion in order to validate and solicit inputs for the various programmes and activities that will be implemented during the 2022 - 2024 period in relation to the empowerment of communities living close to the Tabo-Tabo Education and Training Forest. The event was held on 15 June 2022 at the Campus of the Tabo-Tabo Education and Training Forest and was attended by 30 participants who were representing four forest farmer groups who are currently inhabiting areas close to the Special Purpose Forest Area (KHDTK) of the Tabo-Tabo Education and Training Forest, as well as lecturers (Widyaiswara), BD LHK Makassar, Forest Extension Officers and FORCLIME.

During the meeting, participants discussed the various problems that are currently being faced by forest farmer groups, particularly problems relating to weak institutional structures and the fact that group business development is still less than optimal. The participants also discussed the various community empowerment programme plans and activities that will be implemented during the second semester of the 2022 - 2024 period. In general, the planned activities have been divided into three groups, specifically: (a) Strengthening the institutional management of forest farmer groups; (b) Strengthening community participation in forest conservation and area management activities; (c) Facilitating the development of community-based economic enterprises based on forestry and agriculture.

As a follow-up, information relating to the Roadmap on the Empowerment of Communities Living Around the Tabo-Tabo Education and Training Forest will be disseminated in the near future. Other stakeholders will be invited to this event, including representatives from the district government, the Tabo-Tabo Village Government, the Sulawesi Region of the Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership (PSKL) office, the Forestry Vocational School in Makassar, and various other parties. Through the involvement of these stakeholders, it is hoped that activities relating to community empowerment within Tabo-Tabo will be implemented synergistically and collaboratively.

For more information, please contact:
Edy Marbyanto, Strategic Area Manager for Human Capacity Develop