Wonosobo, January 13, 2025 – The Wonosobo Community Assistance Network (JKPM), the Central Java WALHI Regional Executive, and the National Executive Board of the Indonesian Social Forestry Management Association (AP2SI) held a coordination meeting to design an agenda for strengthening the management of community assets in forest areas and essential ecosystems in Wonosobo Regency.
This meeting aims to share experiences and develop collaborative steps in strengthening the role and participation of communities in forest area governance. By prioritizing the principles of social justice and environmental sustainability, this meeting is expected to be able to answer the challenges and opportunities in community-based asset management.
Synergy of Environmental Protection and Local Economy
Tomy, Head of JKPM Wonosobo, explained that the community empowerment strategy carried out by JKPM aims to integrate environmental protection with local economic development. Activities such as agroforestry and sustainable environmental service management are the main focus, especially in the essential ecosystem areas in the Bogowonto and Serayu River Basins (DAS).
According to Tomy, the upstream area of Mount Sumbing, which is a water catchment area and an important habitat for endemic flora and fauna, needs immediate restoration. The main challenges faced are ensuring security of tenure and developing a just local economy.
Push for Policy Support
Fahmi, Director of WALHI Central Java, emphasized the importance of support from the provincial and district governments in the form of concrete operational policies. "The government needs to present regional regulations (Perda), gubernatorial regulations (Pergub), or regent regulations (Perbup) that support the strengthening of the management of these people's assets," said Fahmi.
Potential of Forest Areas with Special Management (KHDPK)
AP2SI representatives highlighted the opportunities for managing forest areas with KHDPK status in Wonosobo based on the Decree of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number 287/MENLHK/SETJEN/PLA.2/4/2022. Data shows that the total KHDPK area in Wonosobo is 7,776 hectares, which includes:
- Forest area planning: 14.08 hectares in 17 villages.
- Use of forest areas: 5.29 hectares in 6 villages.
- Social forestry: 4,515.98 hectares in 87 villages.
- Forest and land rehabilitation: 3,240.72 hectares in 89 villages.
However, even though regulations such as Permen LHK Number P.83/2016, P.39/2017, to the latest regulation P.4/2023 have been in place, until now there has not been a single Decree (SK) related to social forestry issued in Wonosobo. In fact, in our records there have been 12 community groups facilitated by JKPM and WALHI Central Java submitting social forestry applications to the Minister of Forestry but until now there has been no follow-up whatsoever, this raises questions for us regarding the seriousness of the government in protecting and strengthening people's assets.
The collaboration of these three institutions is expected to strengthen the fair and sustainable management of people's assets, while also encouraging the acceleration of the implementation of government policies to support local communities.
