The Human Resources Extension and Development Agency (BP2SDM) at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), in conjunction with FORCLIME, held a blended online and offline focus group discussion (FGD) with the Heads of Forest Management Units (KPH) located throughout Indonesia on 6 August 2021 in order to evaluate the Young Forester Programme (Bakti Rimbawan). The FGD was held in order to:
1. Collect information about the implementation dynamics of the Bakti Rimbawan programme in the field;
2. Identify the achievements, impacts, challenges, constraints and exit strategy of the Bakti Rimbawan programme (including future schemes for forestry-related human resources for forest management units);
3. Compile collected inputs for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and local governments regarding the future of Bakti Rimbawan participants who are now active in the field.

According to the Head of Planning, Development and Evaluation of Non-Apparatus HR at the MoEF, Dr Iwan Setiawan, one initiative that can be implemented while an exit strategy is being formulated for the Bakti Rimbawan programme involves provincial governments or the Regional Personnel Agency (BKD) proposing formations of technical personnel. “We ask the local government and BKD from each province to apply for positions as civil servants under special agreements (Pegawai Pemerintah dengan Perjanjian Kerja) or candidate civil servants (CPNS) in order to meet requirements for technical personnel. Several provinces, such as West Nusa Tenggara and West Java, have already proposed and some of the Bakti Rimbawan participants have been accepted as extension workers and as forest rangers (Polhut). Ultimately, we don't want any of the capacity that we have empowered so far to become depleted,” Dr Setiawan added.

In addition, in order to aid evaluation processes, an online survey was also conducted. The results of this online survey and the FGD will be drawn up, compiled and sent as input to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, as well as to local governments involved in the continuation of the Bakti Rimbawan Programme.

For further information, please contact:
Edy Marbyanto, Strategic area manager for human-capacity development
Wira Hakim, Junior adviser for human-capacity development

Created: 30 August 2021

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In preparation for the forthcoming national games (PON XX), the Papua Forestry and Environment Service (Dinas KLH) held a series of coordination meetings with FORCLIME (14 July and 3 August 2021). The purpose of these meetings was to prepare promotional materials produced by the community which will be displayed during the PON XX games in October. Meanwhile, the Dinas KLH has already opened a gallery in order to display non-timber forest products produced by local communities, as facilitated by forest management units (KPH) in Papua. However, the promotion of these products requires the production of promotional materials in the form of brochures, leaflets, catalogs, standing banners and short movies. During the recent meetings, FORCLIME pledged its support for the design and production of said promotional materials. In addition to non-timber forest products, various ecotourism sites across Papua will also be promoted. Through these various promotional materials, the products that are created by forest farmer groups, as well as ecotourism across Papua, should ultimately gain wider exposure across a broader audience.

“So far, many initiatives have been implemented by Dinas KLH in order to protect and conserve forests, however, said initiatives have not gained much exposure among the general public. One example of these initiatives is the various facilitations that have been implemented by KPHs in order to assist local communities in the production of non-timber forest products and ecotourism,” explained Mr. Aristoteles, Head of the Forest Protection Department for Dinas KLH. “We hope that FORCLIME will become a successful media outlet in terms of the dissemination of information about the various programmes that have been implemented in conjunction with local communities,” Mr. Aristotle added.

For more information, please contact:
Rut M Ohoiwutun, Junior Adviser for community forestry and hutan adat, Papua
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic area manager for sustainable forest management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces

Created: 29 August 2021

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FORCLIME supports efforts aimed at achieving a healthy, prosperous and sustainable society and harmonizing both human and environmental health, in this case within forests, as both of these areas are ultimately highly interrelated and inter-reliant. Forest conservation programmes that are realized through health services for communities living in and around forests have been successfully developed by the Alam Lestari Foundation (ASRI) in West Kalimantan and were subsequently presented to FORCLIME. FORCLIME has praised this initiative and is hopeful that ASRI will ultimately be able to develop conservation-based health services in Tanah Papua. Indeed, FORCLIME considers the push to link aspects of health to forest protection to be a strategic step for the future. As a result, FORCLIME has pledged its support for a feasibility study, an important first step in this direction. This study will be implemented in Jayapura Regency (Papua Province) and Tambrauw Regency (West Papua Province) and, in line with this plan, the FORCLIME Team in West Papua held an online meeting with the ASRI Foundation on 13 August 2021. The meeting addressed preparations for the undertaking of a feasibility study that will target the selection of suitable locations for the development of a forest conservation-based public-health programme. The results of this study will determine the type of programme that will be implemented. The programme itself will take a conservation-based approach to health by considering the various socio-cultural characteristics of the local community. Moreover, the programme’s implementation will involve various related parties, including the Center for Natural Resources Conservation (BBKSDA) in West Papua, the University of Papua and the Tambrauw District Health Service.

Additional FORCLIME support for the preparation and development of a forest conservation-based public-health programme will take the form of internship opportunities for students from local universities, who will assist ASRI in the implementation of the feasibility study.

For more information, please contact:
Nita Yohana, Adviser for sustainable forest management and Coordinator for West Papua Province
Melanesia Brigite Boseren, Junior adviser for rural livelihood, forest management and conservation
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic area manager for sustainable forest management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces

Created: 27 August 2021

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