The Director General of Social Forestry, Haryadi Himawan, representing the Indonesian Minister of Forestry, handed over the Minister of Forestry Decree on the establishment of Village Forest (Hutan Desa) working areas in Kapuas Hulu during an official visit on 22 January. Eight villages received the Hutan Desa permit signed by the Minister of Forestry, namely Nanga Betung, Sri Wangi, Nanga Jemah, Tanjung, Ujung Said, Penepian Raya, Nanga Lauk, Menua Sadap. Based on this decree on Hutan Desa establishment, local communities now have the legal basis to manage their forests.

Among the villages receiving the license to manage their forests are two villages – Nanga Lauk and Manua Sadap – that are supported by FORCLIME together with the local non-governmental organization KABAN. FORCLIME and KABAN have been assisting these two villages already since the preparation stage for their Hutan Desa proposal; which included the mapping of proposed forest working areas to be managed by the communities through the Hutan Desa scheme.

For further information on FORCLIME’s activities related to community-based forest management, please contact:
Ali Mustofa, Thematic Coordinator for Community Empowerment