At the end of 2021, FORCLIME and its partners designated two support villages through the Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process in the Tambrauw Protected Forest Management Unit (KPHL) area, specifically the village of Emmaus in the sub-district of Sausapor and the village of Bikar in the sub-district of Bikar. In the two villages, FORCLIME and partners focused on activities aimed at increasing the capacities of forest farmer groups (KTH), as well as the development of non-timber forest products (HHBK) that have business potential and that can improve community welfare whilst also protecting forests. Several initiatives have been implemented within the two villages in an effort to help KTH to secure forest management permits through the Social Forestry scheme.

To expand this facilitation, FORCLIME held a coordination meeting with the Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Center for Maluku and Papua Islands (Sekwil II BPSKL) in Manokwari, West Papua on 14 August 2023. The meeting was opened by the Head of Sekwil II BPSKL, Ms. Lilian Komaling, S.Hut., M.Sc., and addressed several matters, including:

• Section II BPSKL Maluku Papua, working in conjunction with FORCLIME, will help the villages of Emmaus and Bikar to secure management permits through the Social Forestry scheme. The two villages already meet the requirements because they have KTH and possess business potential that can be developed, particularly NTFPs.
• In order to secure management permits through the Social Forestry scheme, existing KTH must first be verified. As a result, Section II BPSKL Maluku Papua and FORCLIME will facilitate KTH in the verification process, which is planned to be completed in early September 2023.

In the wake of this coordination meeting, FORCLIME will also prepare a draft agenda on the facilitation of KTH in their quest to secure management permits through the Social Forestry scheme and will also identify the various parties that will become involved in facilitation activities. In addition, a coordination meeting will be held with the Southwest Papua Province Environment, Forestry and Agrarian Service and KPHL Tambrauw.

For more information, please contact:
Nita Yohana, Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua Island