By celebrating the National Nature Conservation Day 2011, GIZ FORCLIME  supports the "Festival of Danau Sentarum - Betung Kerihun 2011" that will be held from 13 to 17 October 2011. Various conservation activities are planned for the Festival such as launching of Sadap as Tourism Village by the Kapuas Hulu Regent  to  be attended by many important tourism- related institutions; Planting Action in the Sadap village; Media Trip to the Embaloh watershed. These activities will be an excellent opportunity to promote eco-tourism potentials and attractions of Betung Kerihun National Park (TNBK).  Another activity is Fun Fishing to be implemented in Sui Tekelan which will be broadcasted by one of the national private TV stations. The Danau Sentarum-Betung Kerihun Festival 2011 will be the biggest event of this year in Kapuas Hulu District aimed at raising awareness of the importance of conservation.

For further information, please contact:
Mr. Heinz Terhorst
Team Leader Component 3
E-mail: heinz.terhorst@eco-consult.com

Created: 07 October 2011

On 9-10 August 2011 at Santika Hotel Jakarta, the Ministry of Forestry with support from GIZ-FORCLIME hosted a Workshop on the Institutionalization of Forest Management Units (FMU). The event was attended by 36 District Secretaries and Heads of Technical Units for Forest Planning in related provinces. The purpose of this event was to encourage decision-makers in the regions to commit to establishing FMU institutions so that the Ministry’s target of KPH development can be achieved. The intended target is to have 60 Model FMUs institutionalised by 2012, which is part of the wider  target of having 120 FMUs operational by 2014.

The Director General of Forestry Planning, Ir. Bambang Soepijanto, MM., in his opening speech expressed his wish for the meeting to encourage a two-way communication. Information about challenges faced in the regions should be expressed, so that they later can be raised as evaluation issues for the Ministry of Forestry in the context of FMU development.

The first presentation by the Head of Organization in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Galingging, explained that FMUs will have the form of “regional working units” (Satuan Kerja Perangkat Daerah, SKPD) according to the Minister of Home Affairs Regulation No. 61/2010. Furthermore, the Director of Forestry and Water Resources at BAPPENAS, Basah Hernowo, confirmed FMU development to be a National Priority. He stressed the role of FMUs for asset management for the regions in the context of sustainable forest management and as a source of local economic development. The Head of the Forestry Service of West Nusa Tenggara, Ir. Hartina, shared her knowledge and experience related to forest management in the FMU in West Rinjani. She experienced that interaction and collaboration of the FMU with local companies such as for firewood production, or for tourist activities, management of micro hydro electric power or water supply companies, but also with Partnership Forests (HKm) and others will provide direct benefits in the form of new employment opportunities, which also means increased income.

At the end of the presentation session, the Director of Preparation of Area Management and Preparation of Forest Area Utilisation of the Forestry Ministry presented the progress of FMU development at the national level and explained the conditions for receiving support from the Central Government which are linked to the status of the FMU to be established as “Model FMU”.

During the meeting, the discussion which was led by the Senior Advisor to the Minister for Relations between Institutions, Ir. Made Subadia Gelgel, MSc., was open and dynamic, so that participants could openly express their thoughts and problematics.

Prior to the closing session, the meeting concluded with an important part of the event, namely Coordination and Consolidation of the Facilitation Plan for FMU Development in the Region. In this session 31 out of 36 District Secretaries or district representatives, committed to immediately follow up with establishing FMU institutions and develop them into Model FMUs. Therefore, provision of support from the Central Government to 60 FMUs in 2012 is expected to run smoothly.

Created: 05 September 2011

The FORCLIME Programme facilitated the participation of ten representatives from different Dayak groups from East and West Kalimantan in the Knowledge Fair that was held as part of the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN) 2nd Annual Conference in Brunei Darussalam at the end of June. For the handicraft makers this was not only a great opportunity to present their work to an international audience and exchange information and products, but also the first time they met with other groups from the Heart of Borneo region both from within and outside Indonesia.

The conference with the theme “Forest for People: The role of Social Forestry in REDD+ and Forest Conservation” contributed to ASFN’s goal of strengthening ASEAN cooperation in Social Forestry through establishing an information and communication system, exchanging knowledge and sharing experiences. FORCLIME presented its activities related to the Heart of Borneo Initiative and biodiversity conservation. Almost 200 people from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the conference. ASFN is the first intergovernmental social forestry network in Southeast Asia.

The Knowledge Fair’s purpose was to promote programs and activities at regional, national as well as local level from relevant projects and initiatives in the ASEAN region, by displaying products, posters, roll-up banners, as well as other publication materials related to the main theme of the ASFN Conference. At the fair several stands were selling and displaying non timber forest products such as Rattan handicraft, woven cloth, honey, silk, special fruit that only grows in Thailand, bee wax, etc.

The Dayak participants had prepared and set up their stand with enthusiasm and determination to display their handicraft in the best possible manner. It is safe to say that the result was very eye catching, maybe even one of the favourite stalls for some people. Another very special touch was added to our stall, as all our representatives wore traditional clothing and looked very beautiful in them. This caused a lot of positive commotion and so at the end of the day, hundreds of pictures were taken with the Dayaks and many items were sold!

For information contact:
Heinz Terhorst
Team Leader
Component 3: Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development in HoB Areas
Tel: +62 (0)21 572 0212
E-mail: heinz.terhorst@eco-consult.com


For further information on the ASEAN Social Forestry Network, consult: www.asfnsec.org

Created: 29 August 2011