In an effort to develop synergy in relation to the development of the Social Forestry programme, FORCLIME conducted a visit and dialogue with the Center for Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships (BPSKL) for the Maluku and Papua regions in Ambon, Maluku on 25 - 26 July 2022. In his speech, the Head of BPSKL Maluku Papua, Yusup, SP, M.Si, said that BPSKL welcomed this visit and dialogue and explained that one of the challenges in terms of developing the Social Forestry programme in Papua was the limited number and quality of facilitators and the scattered distribution of assisted areas. There are currently around 22 independent Social Forestry facilitators in West Papua, while in Papua Province only three facilitators are currently working out of a planned 17.

During the dialogue, FORCLIME affirmed that three months ago, assistance was granted in nine villages recommended by FORCLIME partners in the regions. The most recent data obtained from BPSKL shows that of the four FORCLIME-assisted villages in West Papua, two villages have already secured Social Forestry permits, specifically the villages of Wendi and Haha in South Sorong. It was therefore agreed to make these villages pilot villages for the Social Forestry Programme.

The Head of BPSKL Maluku and Papua explained that the Activity Performance Indicators (IKK) and Main Performance Indicators (IKU) were focusing on the preparation of the Social Forestry Management Plan (RKPS) for approved social forestry management holders, as well as the strengthening of business capacity and the strengthening of the capacities of facilitators. Based on this, several collaborative initiatives have been planned between FORCLIME and BPSKL Maluku and Papua for the second semester of 2022, including:

• Coordination meeting of the Social Forestry Working Group in West Papua.
• Integration of FORCLIME counterpart data into the BPSKL Maluku and Papua self-help assistance database.
• Information sharing and the integration of reporting by FORCLIME facilitators into the Maluku and Papua BPSKL reporting systems.
• Involvement of BPSKL staff and assistants in self-employment training, digital marketing and other relevant training.
• Development of training modules for the inventorizing of forest resource potential for social forestry permit holders or Forest Farmers Groups (KTH).
• Involvement of BPSKL as resource personnel for the training and debriefing of FORCLIME apprentices.
• Facilitation by BPSKL in relation to the registration of FORCLIME assistants in order to secure certificates as forestry extension workers or community self-help assistants (PKSM) as PS assistants.

Meanwhile, potential cooperation for 2023 includes:

o The organization of coordination meetings in Papua Province.
o Preparation of modules and training relating to the preparation of Social Forestry Work Management Plans (RKPS) for social forestry facilitators.
o Involvement of BPSKL staff and assistants in training and field activities organized by FORCLIME.
o Sharing of information between FORCLIME and BPSKL Maluku and Papua

For more information, please contact:
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces
Edy Marbyanto, Strategic Area Manager for Human Capacity Development