In December 2018 the Forest Management Unit (FMU) of Kapuas Hulu Timur in West Kalimantan and FORCLIME conducted a campaign to prevent illegal logging and by this means contribute to the protection of local forests. It is among the important tasks of Indonesian Forest Management Units to inform the rural population about forest utilisation right issues and the prohibition of illegal logging in forest areas in order to avoid deforestation and unsustainable forest management practices.

Therefore, the FMU Kapuas Hulu Timur set up information panels with information about illegal logging prevention in the immediate vicinity of the village administration offices and a strategic points like road junctions in 10 villages of Putussibau Selatan and Kalis counties. Thus primarily local communities should be invited to apply for a licence for wood cutting and processing and to stop unlawful logging activities.

Before this activity FMU Kapuas Hulu Timur identified 10 priories villages within its area of responsibility based on field surveys conducted in 2018. The FMU and FORCLIME also arranged close cooperation with relevant village leaders to ensure a positive response from the population.

Further campaigns in other counties are planned for 2019 as well as dissemination of information about forest utilisation rights, illegal logging and deforestation issues on occasion of general village meetings with local communities.

For more information, please contact:
Moritz Zetzmann, Adviser for forest management unit, Kapuas Hulu