Lesson Learned from Social Forestry Practice in a Forest and Climate Change Project in Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Social forestry is considered as one element to support the practices of sustainable forest management in private and state forests in Indonesia. Currently, the government is promoting the five schemes of social forestry: Village Forest, Community Forest, Community-Based Plantation Forest, Customary Forest, and Partnership. An explorative study of a forest and climate change project in Kalimantan was conducted for 5 years and the experiences should be shared to learn about the strengths, threats, and strategies related to social forestry implementation. After the government has issued the new social forestry policy in 2016, nine villages were facilitated by the project and has obtained the Village Forest Licence. Most villagers preferred to participate in the Village Forest Scheme because the concept was simple and perceived by the people as easily managed. Village boundary agreement, community participation, intensive community empowerment by government or NGO were the important components for having social forestry licence from the Minister. Participatory land use planning was necessary to support the practice of sustainable social forestry, as well as local champion, villagers and local government commitment.