To familiarize with technical methods and procedures in Germany a hospitation programme for to Indonesian foresters was designed and implemented from August 19th to September 3rd 2019. During this time 2 representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s Directorate of Forest Resources Inventory and Monitoring (IPSDH) and Center for Environment and Forestry Education and Training (PUSDIKLAT) visited the state forest enterprise of the German federal state of Hessen (HessenForst) participating in activities in the company’s central planning unit as well as within the Forest Management Units (FMU) Michelstadt and Gross Gerau. Besides that opportunities were given to visit the faculty of forestry at University of Goettingen and the regional council including superior forest authority in Kassel. Since the hospitation programme was developed and prepared within the framework of the Forest Expert Programme, implemented by German Forest Society (Deutscher Forstverein, also based in Goettingen), the guests were introduced to this association, too.

The visitors from Indonesia were familiarized with the structures of the HessenForst state forest enterprise. Subsequently, insights were provided into several methods for the inventory of forest stands (complete and sample survey) and the investigation of site conditions, in particular soil quality. This was followed by the presentation of the procedures for data evaluation and consolidation and their pictorial presentation, among other using a company-specific Geographic Information System (GIS). Beyond office discussions the practical data collection in the field, which causes a lot of efforts, as well as the relevance of these data for daily work of Forest Management Units was part of the programme. When visiting a FMU information on set-up, tasks and every-day-procedures of German forestry offices could be gathered.

Last not least a couple of cultural side events were also arranged during the stay in order to bring the German culture a little closer to the participants of the hospitation. Thus some attractions in the forest like nature parks and wildlife reserves but also sights in and around the cities of Goettingen and Kassel as well as the Odenwald landscape could be viewed.

For more details, please contact:
Lutz Hofheinz, Senior Adviser for Forest Management Unit
Pipin Permadi, Adviser for Forest Policy and Strategic Planning