Photo: Young Farmer of KPS Mulyatani Ibun – Vincentius Budhi P/ Mongabay Indonesia
Bandung, November 17, 2025 — The controversy surrounding the Java Forest Rescue Forum (FPHJ) hearing with Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) has reopened old wounds over who is actually destroying Java's forests. Amid public scrutiny of the Decree of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) concerning Forest Areas with Special Management (KHDPK), the FPHJ is pushing for the revocation of the policy, arguing it is "to save the forests." However, behind that slogan, what is really at stake is the return of an old management model that failed to protect forests and marginalized forest village communities. For decades, Java's forests have been managed in a closed manner under a corporate model that monopolized access. The result? Forest cover has declined, critical land has expanded, and communities surrounding the forests have remained impoverished.
“"What they call forest rescue is actually just rescuing an old system that's proven to be a failure. Forest village communities are always made scapegoats, even though they've been protecting the forests without recognition," said Dedi Junaedi, Chairman of the West Java Regional Development Planning Agency (BPP) for the Indonesian Forestry Association (AP2SI).
The KHDPK and Social Forestry policies are not forms of forest liberalization, as alleged. These policies arose from the need to shift the paradigm of forest management to be more equitable, transparent, sustainable, and community-based.
According to GOKUPS data, by 2025, Social Forestry Management Approvals will reach approximately 477,866 hectares for 268,842 families on the island of Java. This legal access provides capital for village communities surrounding forest areas to manage protected forests or production forests fairly, sustainably, and sustainably for 35 years.
“"Social Forestry Groups are actually capable of managing forest products and paying forest resource fees as part of their obligations to the state. For example, the Jaleuleu and Gambung forestry groups in Pasirjambu District, Bandung Regency, have paid non-tax state revenue (PNBP) from non-timber forest products through a website-based information system provided by the Ministry of Forestry," said Dedi.
This Social Forestry Program has had a very positive impact with an increase in household income around the forest by around 20 percent and a significant contribution to the rehabilitation of critical land.
“"Whereas forests were once a source of conflict, they are now becoming shared living spaces. The urgent need now is to strengthen mentoring and oversight, not to revoke policies," Dedi emphasized.
From Banten to Banyuwangi, hundreds of forest farmer groups, Social Forestry Groups, and forestry cooperatives have demonstrated that community participation actually strengthens the ecological function of forests. They have replanted barren slopes with coffee, revitalized mangrove-based ecotourism, and even developed a green economy at the village level.
“"The people have long proven that sustainable forests are born from prosperity, not from fear," Dedi continued.
Civil society supports the evaluation of the KHDPK and social forestry, but strongly opposes any revocation efforts that would revoke community rights and trust.
“"Evaluation is part of improvement, not a reason to regress. If there are deviations, address them on the ground, not revoke the policy," Dedi added.
We urge the Ministry of Forestry and the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) not to fall into the false narrative that positions communities as a threat. Instead, by strengthening partnerships, participatory oversight, and technical assistance, the KHDPK can become a new milestone towards ecological justice in Java.
The people who plant, care for, and enjoy the harvest—Sustainable Forests, Prosperous People. Java's forests don't need a new savior; what they need is justice for the true guardians of the forest: the people.
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Bandung, November 17, 2025
West Java Indonesian Social Forestry Management Association (AP2SI JABAR)
Dedi Junaedi
Chairman of BPP AP2SI West Java
