Since 2014, The Human Resources Extension and Development Agency (BP2SDM) at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) has been developing the Young Forester Programme (YFP) as a part of efforts designed to meet the needs for human resources at forest management units (KPH). As of 2019, 2,594 YFP personnel had been assigned to KPH. However, based on the most recent data, only 1,068 Young Foresters are now actively working in the field. Although staff numbers are currently relatively small, the results of the monitoring and evaluation conducted by the BP2SDM have revealed that the Young Foresters Programme has made a significant contribution to the operational readiness of FMUs in the field.

Since the Young Forester Programme will end in 2021, the BP2SDM recently conducted an evaluation of the programme and the results were presented at an online and offline workshop that was held on 14 October 2021 in Jakarta. The workshop, supported by FORCLIME, was opened by Dr. Ir. Iwan Setiawan, M.Sc., the Head of Planning, Development and Evaluation of Non-Apparatus HR at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

The results of the study and evaluation identified a number of challenges and obstacles relating to the implementation of the Young Forester programme, as follows:
1. Limited human resources at both the central and regional levels.
2. An uncertain future has been a demotivating factor for young foresters working in the field.
3. The authority of the FMU as a forest management institution at the site level is becoming increasingly limited.

The study results also revealed that only seven out of 25 provinces have the resources to continue financing the Young Forester Programme. These seven provinces are: East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, DI Yogyakarta, North Sumatra and North Sulawesi. The results of the study also identify West Nusa Tenggara and West Papua, however, the consultation process within these two regions has not yet been completed. As a result, only 20% - 30% of Indonesia’s provinces are ready to continue with the Young Forester Programme.

One of the outputs from the evaluation of the Young Forester Programme is the following exit strategy scenario:
1. Short-term scenario (affirmative), assigning 32% of the Young Foresters to the local government as honorary KPH staff members, with the remaining 68% to be reallocated to MoEF working units as temporary workers.
2. Medium-term scenario (competitive), preparation of young foresters to become permanent KPH employees (civil servants) through the Recruitment of Government Employees with Work Agreements (P3K) mechanism.
3. Long-term scenario (facilitative), formulating regional action plans that address the meeting of the standard ratio target for forestry human resources at KPHs (minimum of 25 persons per KPH).

Based on the study results, in order to support each of the above scenarios, the BP2SDM will need to coordinate and consolidate intensively with relevant central ministries/institutions, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, Bappenas and the State Civil Service Agency. In addition, coordination also needs to be carried out with local governments, as well as with the forestry service and the Regional Personnel and Training Agency (BKD), in order to formulate a policy strategy capable of developing and meeting the need for FMU human resources in the future. Regional governments, acting through the forestry service or provincial environment and forestry services, along with the BKD, should actively propose formations to the Ministry of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform so that they will be able to meet the demand for human resources by FMUs, either through the formation of ASN or through recruitment of government employees under work agreements.

For more information, please contact:
Wira Hakim, Junior advisor for Human Capacity Development
Edy Marbyanto, Strategic Area Manager for Human Capacity Development

Created: 29 October 2021

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The Makassar Environment and Forestry Education and Training Agency (BD LHK) has been tasked with managing the forest with special-purpose (KHDTK) of Tabo-Tabo Training Forest since 2010. Although the available resources (HR, financing, etc.) are relatively limited in this area, BD LHK Makassar has been implementing strategies aimed at maximising its potential, including the development of a network of cooperation, community partnerships and demonstration plots, among other initiatives. Moreover, the various approaches that are being implemented in terms of handling the challenges that are being faced are to be documented so that they can subsequently be used as lessons learned by KHDTK managers in other locations. As a result, FORCLIME is supporting BD LHK Makassar’s initiative to document its experiences regarding the management of the KHDTK Tabo-Tabo in a forthcoming publication.

As a first step towards the publication of a lessons learned book, from 21 - 25 October 2021, the BD LHK Makassar, working in collaboration with FORCLIME, interviewed various stakeholder representatives of BD LHK Makassar, as well as the technical implementing unit of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry posted in Makassar, various vocational forestry schools located in Makassar and Maros, the South Sulawesi Social Forestry Working Group, the Bulusaraung Forest Management Unit (KPH Bulusaraung), the village government and community leaders from the village of Tabo-Tabo, and the Forest Farmers Group, which is currently being assisted by BD LHK Makassar.

The results of these interviews will be compiled into a lessons-learned book that will specifically address the management of the Tabo-Tabo Training Forest. This book is expected to be completed and published in November 2021.

For more information, please contact:
Edy Marbyanto, Strategic Area Manager for Human Capacity Development

Created: 28 October 2021

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The Lore Lindu Biosphere Reserve (LLBR) area is rich in a diversity of flora and fauna, including orchids. It is estimated that some 100 species of orchid can be found in the LLBR, some of which are endemic species. Communities around LLBR often cultivate orchids as an alternative source of income due to the high prices and strong demand associated with this iconic flower.

Three villages around the LLBR are actively cultivating orchids, specifically the villages of Karunia, Rejeki and Bahagia, which are located in the district of Palolo in Sigi Regency. In order to improve the sustainability of community businesses and ensure the sustainability of CBLL forest management, FORCLIME, in collaboration with the Faculty of Forestry at Tadulako University and the Center for Integrated Business Services for Cooperatives, Micro-, Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises (PLUT KUMKM) in the province of Central Sulawesi, recently organised training relating to orchid propagation and digital marketing to an orchid-related women’s group in the three villages in question.

The training session was held on 24 October2021 in Karunia Village and was attended by 21 participants. In terms of orchid propagation, the participants received training in orchid propagation techniques and the conditions required for orchid growth, including climate, media, planting techniques, fertilization and storage. In terms of digital marketing, the material provided related to digital marketing strategies, the optimization of digital marketing and strategies aimed at determining suitable sale prices for orchids.

Suniati, one of the training participants from the village of Bahagia, conveyed her impressions of the training, stating that, ‘The most important thing that I learned was how to promote products online. However, training sessions such as this should be conducted in locations with decent Internet connectivity so that we can practice what we learn directly.’

For more information, please contact:
Ismet Khaeruddin, Senior Advisor for the Biodiversity Focal Point for the KFW Forest Program 3 and Provincial Coordinator for Central Sulawesi
Fikty Aprilinayati, Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management and Biosphere Reserve Management

Created: 27 October 2021

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