Background and objectives

In the framework of forest governance and the preparation for Forest Management Unit (FMU) management plans, data and information on the potential of forest resources, characteristics of the area and other information is required. To obtain these data and information it is necessary to conduct forest inventory activities in the respective area.

The application of sound and efficient forest inventory methods at FMU- level is a precondition for the formulation of 10-year and annual management plans. Specific inventories need to be conducted on a regular basis  at FMU, resort and compartment level to provide a foundation  for forest management by determining timber and non-timber forest products.

During a two-year process from March 2015 until January 2017 the former technical guideline on forest inventories for FMUs was revised within a participatory process including national and international experts, different stakeholders on national (Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry KLHK, universities) and subnational (technical implementation units of DG Planology - BPKH, FMU) level supported by FORCLIME.

The main approach of the Ministry regarding the revision of the forest inventory guideline was to implement an inventory guideline which applies the following requirements:

• to be efficient and cost effective
• to minimise sampling errors
• to be flexible and adaptable to  local FMU conditions (such as individual tasks of FMU or site conditions etc.).

A milestone input for the development of a new forest inventory guideline was the development of a publication ’’Definition of a minimum standard for forest management inventories on FMU level’’ by the Forest Eye consultant team of University of Göttingen. This minimum standard served as advisory input for the revision of the technical guideline by the Ministry-Directorate for Forest Resources Inventory and Monitoring (IPSDH). The publication provides key stakeholders of forest inventories and FMU management staff with comprehensive multifaceted aspects of forest management inventories and gives recommendations on methodology, design and implementation. The new technical guideline for forest inventory in production and protection FMUs was enacted in January 2017  (P.1/PKTL/IPSDH/PLA.1/1/2017: Petunjuk Teknis Inventarisasi Hutan dan Sosial Budaya pada Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan Lindung  dan Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan Produksi).

1) Field test

In February 2018, IPSDH conducted an organisational and methodological study in order to test the practicability of the guideline under field conditions. The test was done in order to identify problems being faced in the implementation of forest inventory in production FMU (KPHP) and protection FMU  (KPHL), both regarding technical and administrative aspects, as well as obtaining certainty on the resources needed with respect to the amount of time, budget, equipment, and personnel.
The respective study took place in the area of FMU Kapuas Hulu Utara, West Kalimantan.

For the field test, 4 teams inventoried following different forest types inside 3 village forests:

1. Primary peat swamp forest
2. Secondary peat swamp forest
3. Primary dryland forest
4. Secondary dryland forest

Each team consisted of seven team members: one forest inventory expert from KLHK (IPSDH) as team leader, 2 staff from FMU Kapuas Hulu Utara and 4 supporting workers from local communities.

During the field test, detailed records were produced which allowed to analyze the result in terms of identification of measurement constraints while implementing cluster and plots establishment, measurement of stands forest, shift of cluster, measurement of non-timber forest products, biodiversity and environmental services, based on technical aspects like time, equipment and personnel with respect to the forest inventory guideline.
FORCLIME supported the preparation, implementation and follow-up of the field test.

2) Evaluation of the field test

A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on all experiences gathered with the revised guidelines was conducted on April 12-13, 2018, in Bogor. This FGD aimed on evaluating the technical aspects and efficiency of the technical concept as well as involvement of BPKH and related directorates in order to improve the forest and socio-cultural inventory guidelines in a future revision.

During the FGD, needs for amendment of the technical inventory guideline as well as for the socio-cultural inventory guideline have been discussed. During the event representatives of most of the technical implementation units (BPKH) from all over Indonesia, the Directorate for Forest Resources Inventory and Monitoring (IPSDH), the Training Centre for Environment and Forestry (BD LHK) Bogor, Bogor Agricultural University and FORCLIME discussed the findings of the field test as well as first experiences from implementing the guideline in FMUs in Sulawesi and Maluku. A long list of more than 20 inputs for the amendment of the guideline was collected for further improvement of the guidelines.

3) Lessons learned and way forward

The focus group discussion for evaluation of the technical forest inventory guideline, socio-cultural inventory guideline and the standard of activity and cost brought many valuable inputs to be considered for a future revision of the guidelines. At the same time, an intense knowledge exchange between the different BPKHs with different work (i.e. forest) conditions took place.

The field test of inventory procedures provided valuable information with respect to implementing a realistic planning of inventory activities in the field.

The inputs for revision of the guidelines have been compiled and will eventually be used as basis for a future amendment of the guidelines by DG Planogy’s Directorate of Forest Resources Inventory and Monitoring (IPSDH). After final works on the regulation a new guideline will be available for FMUs ensuring proper planning processes and reliable planning results as a basis for sustainable forest management in Indonesia.

For more information, please contact:
Moritz Zetzmann, Development Adviser for forest management unit, Putussibau, West Kalimantan
Stephanie Wegscheider, Development Adviser for GIS

Created: 23 May 2018