On 21st of May 450 farmers and local government representatives of Malinau District, East Kalimantan, celebrated the founding of the District Farmers Association.

At the occasion, the Head of Malinau District, Dr. Yansen, expressed his appreciation of FORCLIME’s support to promoting agroforestry systems for sustainable cocoa production:

Created: 07 June 2012

Read more: Agroforestry demonstration plots attract interest of newly founded farmers’ association

In April, FORCLIME conducted a two-day photography workshop on “BiodiverCity: Habitat Jakarta” as part of side events organized during the exhibition of the FORCLIME Photo Contest 2011, which was displayed at the GeotheHaus Jakarta from 18 April to 5 May 2012. Side events comprised presentations, talk shows and workshops related to forests, biodiversity conservation and climate change in Indonesia.

The photography workshop aimed to increase public’s awareness about the amazingly rich fauna and flora in Jakarta. Students of environmental science, biology, spatial planning, conservation and forestry from universities in Jakarta and adjacent cities participated in the workshop. During the 2-day event, the students visited the Muara Angke wildlife reserved to experience Jakarta wilderness in order to develop a greater understanding on the crucial values of healthy eco-systems in urban areas. They learned not only about how to capture the nature but also gained knowledge about current problems faced by big cities like Jakarta due to rapid urban development. Photographs taken by participants during the field observation were displayed at the GoetheHaus along with the Exhibition of the FORCLIME Photo Contest 2011, where FORCLIME presented the winners and runners-up of the “Biodiversity” special award and photographs of the “Honourable Mention” category. The FORCLIME Photo Contest 2011 was conducted to celebrate the International Year of Forests 2011 in Indonesia together with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. Winning and runner-up photographs are presented at FORCLIME’s website http://forclime.org/

Created: 23 May 2012

As one step in the process of obtaining management rights under the Village Forest (Hutan Desa) Programme, in April, in the District of Malinau, the proposed Village Forest for Setulang, covering an area of about 5.300 ha, underwent a field verification process in order to ensure that the proposed location does not overlap with any other licences. The FORCLIME Programme supported the village in preparing for this process both in technical aspects such as improving draft map that previously developed by CIFOR and Malinau Forestry Service, and in facilitating coordination between the community, Malinau District government and the field verification team.

Following up on the proposal for managing the Setulang Protected Forest (Tane 'Olen) under the village forest (hutan desa) programme, the Ministry of Forestry together with the East Kalimantan Provincial Forest and Malinau District Forest Services carried out a field verification process. The team consisted of the Directorate General of Watershed Management and Social Forestry (DG BPDASPS), the Technical Unit of Watershed Management (UPT BPDAS) Mahakam Berau, the Center for Forest Area Consolidation (BPKH) Region IV Samarinda, East Kalimantan Provincial Forestry Service, and Malinau District Forestry Service. The proposed area consists of protection forest and limited production forest and is located within the administrative area of Setulang village.

During the field verification, the team consulted directly with the village forest management institution and relevant village government officials , to discuss what kind of potential conflicts might  occurr, about the village forest management in the future and other issues. The team also checked the coordinates of the boundary of the village forest area in the field. Results of the field verification process will be reported to the Ministry of Forestry for consideration in the decree which will establish the working area of the Setulang village forest. According to the official minutes of the field verification Setulang Village Forest complies with all legal requirements. Also the commitment, facilities and facts from the field support Setulang’s application for the Village Forest.

In a meeting with the verification team = the Secretary of Malinau district, Adry Patton, commended the Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut), for providing support to the village forest in Malinau. According to him, the Village Forest Programme is in line with the development objective of the Malinau district and its =  Village Development Movement (Gerakan Desa Membangun-Gerdema). Gerdema is a movement to promote community-based economic development to reach the villages so that the people of Malinau will become smarter, healthier, more productive and prosperous. He expressed his hope that the Ministry of Forestry can approve the proposal without delay, so that the village community can get legal access and rights to manage the forest.

The Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia through the Minister of Forestry’s decree No. P.49/Menhut-II/2008 concerning Village Forest provides good opportunities for local communities living in and around forests to manage and utilize forest areas in their villages. It is expected that the available access can be used for improving the welfare of local communities. Setulang is the first village in Malinau that has proposed the Protected Forest (Tane 'Olen) as a Village Forest.

For more information, please contact:
Edy Marbyanto (edy.marbyanto@giz.de) atau Mustofa Ali (ali.mustofa@giz.de)

Created: 04 May 2012