October 2nd was the official date for the conclusion of a community tenure conflict resolution in the Forest Management Unit (KPH) of Berau Barat. It is marked by the signing of a cooperation agreement which establishes a partnership scheme between  a forest concession (PT. Inhutani I Labanan), the community of Tepian Buah Village and the KPH Berau Barat. The event was witnessed by the Head of the village, the Village Consultative Agency, the Head of Segah Sub-district and acknowledged by the Head of East Kalimantan Province Forestry Service. The partnership arranges the management of Tembalang waterfall in Tepian Buah village, which is situated in the area of KPH Berau Barat, formerly the working area of PT Inhutani 1. Because of its beauty and uniqueness, Tembalang waterfall became a tourist attraction in the village of Tepian Buah and has the potential to develop into an ecotourism object, next to providing environmental services. The partnership scheme aims to improve economic empowerment efforts and concludes the resolution of tenurial conflicts with the principle of partaking of roles, responsibilities and benefits. The cooperation also mentions the profit sharing of the partnership from the total net income, 30% for PT. Inhutani I Labanan, 60% for Tepian Buah village and 10% for KPH Berau Barat.

Up to now, GIZ has been providing assistance to KPH Berau Barat, including the resolving of community tenure conflicts around its working area.

For more information, please contact:
Suprianto, Technical Advisor for Forest Management Unit
Tunggul Butarbutar, East Kalimantan Provincial Coordinator
Lutz Hofheinz, Strategic Area Manager, Forest Management Unit