Several customary forests have already been legalized by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Cen-tral Sulawesi Province. However, until now, the boundaries of these customary forests have not been properly delineated, while the relevant indigenous communities do not yet have any management plans for their specific customary forests. In preparation for the process of establishing customary forest boundaries within the province of Central Sulawesi, the Central Sulawesi Provincial Forestry Service, supported by FORCLIME, held a coordination meeting on 21 July 2023 in the meeting room of the Head of the Central Sulawesi Forestry Service. Also present at the meeting were representatives from Tadulako University, the Provincial Planning Agency (Bappeda), the Environment Agency, technical implementing units from the Ministry of Forestry in Central Sulawesi (the Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Agency, the Lore Lindu National Park Center, the Forest Area Consolidation Center) and the Kulawi Forest Management Unit, as well as the KARSA Institute and the Central Sulawesi Customary Territory Registration Agency (BRWA). This coordination meeting addressed the activity plan for the determination of customary forest boundaries in Central Sulawesi while awaiting further regulations to be issued by the Ministry of Environ-ment and Forestry that specifically address said boundaries. The implementation of route determinations or boundary lines will be supervised by the Center for Consolidation of Forest Areas in Central Sulawesi.

For more information, please contact:
Arif Hidayat, Junior Advisor for Forest and Biodiversity
Ismet Khaeruddin, Senior Adviser for Biodiversity Focal Point for the KFW Forest Program 3 and Provincial Coordinator for Central Sulawesi

Created: 01 August 2023

With the purpose of encouraging Village Forest Management Agencies (LPHD) to prepare Social Forestry Management Plans (RKPS), a series of activities were recently held for seven LHPDs in Seremuk Sub-District, South Sorong Regency, specifically a survey of forest potential (10 – 11 July 2023) and a workshop on the preparation of RKPS (12 – 13 July 2023). This series of activities were held at the resort office of the Sorong Selatan Production Forest Management Unit (KPHP, Haha Village), while the seven LPHD were from the villages of Haha, Wendi, Sira, Manggaroholo, Sasnek, Woloin and Boldon. The activities were the result of a collaboration between the Southwest Papua Provincial Service for the Environment, Forestry and Agriculture, the Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Agency (BPSKL) of Maluku-Papua Section II Region, South Sorong KPHP and GIZ FORCLIME.

The survey of forest potential was completed in order to specifically address the development of business potential. Data relating to this area are very useful in terms of partnership opportunities and business cooperation. In addition, the LPHD were able to clearly assess the boundaries of their respective management/work areas so that they could subsequently map their forest potential. The results of this survey should prove very useful during preparations of Social Forestry Management Plans.

The workshop on RKPS development was opened by the Head of the Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Agency (BPSKL) for the Maluku-Papua Section II Region, Mr. Ojom Somantri, S.Hut., M.Sc., and was attended by seven LPHDs from Seremuk Sub-District, as well as by the Head of Kampung Haha, the Secretary of Kampung Haha, the Kampung Haha village council (Bamuskam), youth leaders and women's groups from Kampung Haha, the Kampung Haha Traditional Council and Kampung Haha community representatives.

The final RKPS document will ultimately be approved by the Heads of the LPHD concerned, the Heads of KPH and the Head of the Maluku Papua Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Agency.

For more information, please contact:
Nita Yohana, Advisor for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for West Papua Province
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces

Created: 25 July 2023

The South Sorong Production Forest Management Unit (KPHP), supported by FORCLIME, held a coaching clinic that addressed the production of gaharu tea for members of the Gaharu Imian Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) in Haha Village, Seremuk Sub-District, South Sorong Regency on 11 July 2023. The activity was a part of capacity-building efforts relating to the preparation and development of a Social Forestry Management Plan (RKPS) for the Village Forest Management Body (LPHD) of Kampung Haha. The event was opened by the Head of Forest Planning and Management for South Sorong KPHP, Mr. Yermias Y.M. Thesia, S.Hut., and was attended by all 15 members of KUPS Gaharu Imian, several members of the community who wanted to learn about the making of gaharu tea, officials from the village of Haha and also youth and female leaders from the village. The coaching clinic was implemented in line with standard operating procedures (SOP), which will subsequently be applied by members of KUPS Gaharu Imian during the production of gaharu tea.

For more information, please contact:
Nita Yohana, Advisor for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for West Papua Province
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces

Created: 20 July 2023