To gain a better understanding about the Law 23/2014 on Regional Governments and its implications, the East Kalimantan Provincial Forestry Service in collaboration with FORCLIME held a focused group discussion (FGD) on 6 October 2015 in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. The event was attended by representatives of government organizations in East Kalimantan, including the district/ city forestry service, the Regional Development Planning Board (Bappeda), the Organization Bureau as well as the Legal Bureau of the Province Government Secretariat.

The issuance of Law 23/2014 is going to lead to some significant changes at district level such as, for instance, the revocation of authorities for those district development aspects with broader implications and the need for integrated management. Under Law 23/2014 these items will come under provincial authority.

In the forestry sector, district governments are currently intensively establishing Forest Management Units (FMU), which until now had been registered as Technical Implementation Units (UPT) under the district forestry service. With the dissolution of district forestry services as a result of Law 23/2014, the position of FMUs – both related to budgeting and organization – is not well-defined any more and needs to be reformulated.

During the FGD, participants discussed various issues related to the implications of the Law 23/2014 on forest management and governance in East Kalimantan, and endeavored to find solutions and propose them to the local and central governments.

For further information, please contact:
Tunggul Butar Butar, Senior Adviser for Forest Management Unit development

Created: 01 November 2015

With the aim to establish a mutual understanding on Participatory Land Use Planning (PLUP), the District Forest Service of Malinau and FORCLIME financial cooperation (FC) conducted a training on PLUP in Pujungan sub-District of Malinau District in September 2015. The training was followed by simultaneous facilitation of PLUP preparation in 15 villages in Malinau. The facilitation was carried out by trained village facilitators and field guides, as well as technical personnel of FORCLIME FC.

The facilitation process was organized in several steps. First, the dissemination of information about PLUP in 15 villages, second a review of potential villages that had been identified previously. Next, the establishment of a PLUP team at each village with the task to take coordinate points and assist in technical issues related to PLUP implementation.

According to Oeban Hadjo, a FORCLIME FC technical expert, "PLUP will assist communities to be more effective in formulating land-based development programs at the village level".

As a result of the PLUP facilitation a “Village Priority Programme Plan on Village Land Use” has been drafted that will be used for forest management activities in the villages (long-term investments).

For further information, please contact:
Indah Astuti , FORCLIME FC forestry expert of the District Project Management Unit (DPMU)
Rudi Sugih Arto , FORCLIME FC adviser for REDD+

Created: 25 October 2015

The East Kalimantan Provincial Forestry Service held a meeting on 29 September 2015 in Samarinda to disseminate the content of the new regulation of the governor (No.15/2014). This new regulation stipulates conscientious and goal oriented development of the village forest, taking into account objectives and technical principles of village forest development. The activity is supported by FORCLIME, The Nature Conservancy and WWF Indonesia East Kalimantan, and attended by 60 representatives of the local and provincial governments, the Technical Implementing Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) and local and international NGOs active in Samarinda.

In his speech, Wiratno, Director of the Preparation Area for Social Forestry at the General Directorate of Social Forestry and Partnership at the MoEF, emphasized that well managed village forests are vital for the community's economy: "One of the growth of the community's economy is economic activities of the people living in the surrounding forests. And well-managed village forests is a tremendous opportunity for development of the available local products to improve the community’s welfare".

Other issues shared during the meeting included experiences and lessons learned from previous activities in village forest development. In addition, also discussed the implications of the implementation of the new Law No. 23/2014 on local government towards forest management at local level.

For further information, please contact:
Ali Mustofa, Adviser for Community-Based Forest Management

Created: 11 October 2015