Working in collaboration with the Forestry Service of Central Sulawesi Province, FORCLIME held an informal meeting with all of the Heads of Central Sulawesi’s Forest Management Units (KPH) on 21 June 2022 in the city of Palu. The meeting tackled an additional agenda that related to the visits of two quiz winners during the closing workshop of FORCLIME phase 3 in December 2020. Unfortunately, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, this field trip to the FORCLIME location was only able to be held in June 2022. The two quiz winners were Mr. Maidiward (former Sub-Directorate Head of Production Forest Management Unit Arrangements at the Directorate of Production Forest Management Units) and Mr. Khulfi M. Khalwani (The Bureau of Planning at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry).

“I welcomed it when FORCLIME proposed an information-sharing session during the visit of Mr. Maidward and Pak Khulfi. FMUs are thirsty for information on developments relating to the implementation of KPHs after the UUCK”, explained the Head of the Forestry Service of Central Sulawesi Province, Dr. Ir. H. Nahardi, MM., IPU, during his opening remarks.

During the meeting, several heads of forest management units discussed the obstacles and challenges that they faced in relation to the operation of FMUs, which mainly relate to human and financial resources, particularly in the wake of the changes that have been made to the duties and functions of the FMU re-garding facilitation. The meeting was also attended by two technical implementing units from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Central Sulawesi, specifically the Center for Forest Area Consolidation (BPKH) and the National Park of Lore Lindu.

Addressing the main topic of the informal meeting, Mr. Maidiward offered an analysis that included the facilitation of funds for the development of FMUs, as specifically addressed under Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK) Regulation No. 8 of 2021 on Forest Management and Forest Management Plans. In ad-dition, Mr. Maidiward’s presentation also addressed the role of echelon I at the Ministry of LHK in support-ing the duties and functions of FMUs, as outlined under Article 23 of Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation. 8/Menlhk-II/2021

In the wake of this informal meeting, regular meetings of the Central Sulawesi KPH Forum are set to be reactivated after a long break during the Covid-19 pandemic. This kind of meeting is generally perceived to be extremely useful for KPH heads, who are able to share information in ways that support the tasks and functions of FMUs.

For more information, please contact:
Muhammad Yusuf, Junior Advisor for Social Forestry and Sustainable Forest Management
Ismet Khaeruddin, Senior Adviser for Biodiversity Focal Point for KFW Forest Program 3 and Provincial Coordinator for Central Sulawesi