With the sound of the traditional gong and the signature of Malinau’s Regent Yansen TP, the ceremonial inauguration of Setulang as a “Tourism Village” has officially been completed.
Setulang is one of the villages in North Kalimantan, Malinau District which still owns well-conserved forests, due to forest management based on local wisdom (Tane'olen). In Setulang, a forest area of 4,330 ha has been determined by the Ministry of Forestry through SK.526/Menhut-II/2013 on 25 July 2013 to become part of the community-based forest management scheme called “Village Forest” or Hutan Desa in Indonesian.
    
With the Village Forest certificate, the people of Setulang community – organized through the Tane’ olen Community Board – are now allowed to manage and supervise their forests. Being located approximate to the district’s capital, the sustainable Tane’olen forest management practices of Setulang may be promoted as part of its newly established Tourism Village status to attract visitors who are interested in experiencing the typical characteristics of Kalimantan’s tropical rainforests.

Together with the Malinau District Forestry Service, FORCLIME has been assisting the Setulang community in developing their Village Forest proposal, in particular by supporting capacity building activities of Tane’olen Community Board members. This institution is expected to be able to manage the forest Setulang wisely and sustainably.

For more information about FORCLIME’s activities in Setulang village, please contact:
Ali Mustofa, Thematic Leader for Community Empowerment