Forest Inventory Technical Guidance Offered to Vocational Forestry School Teachers in Makassar

From 15 - 17 May 2023, the Makassar Forestry Vocational High School, working in conjunction with the Makassar Environment and Forestry Training Center, held a technical guidance session on forest inventories for teachers at the Forestry Vocational School of Makassar. This activity was held as a follow-up to the trilateral cooperation plan for the Makassar Vocational Forestry School, the Makassar Environment and Forestry Training Center and FORCLIME, as had previously been discussed back in early 2023. The technical guidance session was organized in an effort to increase the knowledge and skills of teachers within the forest inventory field so that teachers will ultimately be able to teach up-to-date and practical forest inventory-related materials to their students. The training was facilitated by lecturers (widyaiswara) from the Makassar Environment and Forestry Training Center and was attended by 30 participants.

On the first day of training, technical guidance was offered in class through materials that specifically addressed the Periodic Comprehensive Forest Inventory Sampling Technique (IHMB) and the Pre-Logging Stand Inventory Plan (ITSP). On the second day, technical assistance was carried out in the form of forest inventory field practice that was undertaken in the KHDTK Tabo-Tabo Training Forest. Moving on to the third day of the training, technical guidance was offered through a class that taught materials on the drawing up of a tree distribution map based on the results of an inventory in the field.

Generally speaking, the participants offered positive responses in their evaluations of the benefits of the technical guidance that was offered during the training. However, some participants felt that the timeframe that had been allotted for the technical guidance sessions was too short to adequately cover the complex materials that were being used. The participants therefore suggested that the timeframe set for any technical assistance could be extended in the future.

For more information, please contact:
Daniel Maertz, Adviser for Adult Education and Training
Edy Marbyanto, Strategic Area Manager for Human Capacity Development

KAREBA Orchid Group of the Lore Lindu Biosphere Reserve Organizes Regular Meetings as a Medium for Communication and Information Sharing

The KAREBA Orchid Group of the Lore Lindu Biosphere Reserve (KAREBA CBLL) comprises three groups of orchid farmers from three villages that are located in Palolo District in Sigi Regency in Central Sulawesi, specifically the villages of Karunia, Rejeki and Happy. This orchid farmers group, which was founded in 2017, has seven members drawn from each of these villages. The initial goal behind the forming of this group was to improve and develop the abilities of group members and their families to grow orchids, particularly the village women, given that most of the members of this group are women.

To improve communication and share information, KAREBA CBLL organizes regular meetings which are held on a monthly basis. On 2 May 2023, the group held a meeting in the village of Bahagia. During the meeting, the administrators and group members produced several agreements which are aimed at mutual progress, including the improvement of facilities and infrastructure in the orchid nurseries, as certain types of orchids grow well in clay pots. The group also discussed the best media in which to grow plants, including charcoal from saman (Samanea saman) and coffee woods, which are considered superior planting media. In addition, the meeting also discussed the group’s requirements, which include fertilizers, insecticides and other items. These items are needed due to the annoying presence of snail pests, while flower bud-destroying insects are also common pests in this area. During the meeting, KAREBA CBLL also discussed increasing shared knowledge capacity through simple training. This activity is expected to involve local instructors, who will act as resource personnel.

During the meeting initiated by the orchid farmers group, it was also agreed that a routine, monthly meeting would be held on the first Tuesday of every month. Through regularly meetings and exchanges of ideas, it is hoped that group members will be able to encourage the activities of other members. In terms of institutions, the meeting also discussed monthly fees and appointed a secretary from the village of Rejeki, resulting in an equal distribution of representation from each village. Currently, the chairman of KAREBA CBLL is from the village of Bahagia, while the group treasurer is a representative from the village of Karunia Village.

The monthly meetings will be rotated across KAREBA CBLL group villages, with next month’s meeting planned for Rejeki. However, meetings can also be held in places capable of offering increased knowledge to group members, for example at the Orchid Breeding site in the Kalimpaa Lake Tourism area or the Bancea Orchid Tourism Park in Poso Regency.

For more information, please contact:
Muhammad Yusuf, Junior Advisor for Social Forestry and Sustainable Forest Management
Ismet Khaeruddin, Senior Adviser for Biodiversity Focal Point for the KFW Forest Program 3 and Provincial Coordinator for Central Sulawesi

University of Ottow Geissler Papua disseminates cooperation and support for forest farmers group in Babrongko Village, Papua

Over the last two years, FORCLIME has engaged in a series of activities aimed at encouraging the Papua Provincial Forestry and Environment Service (DKLH) to post achievements in relation to community empowerment development. In this regard, it was decided to support the Isite forest farmers group (KTH) in Barongko Village, Distrik Ebungfauw, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province. This village has been assisted by DKLH Papua since 2012.

The village of Barongko has significant potential in terms of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), including extensive sago forests, freshwater fish commodities and woodcarving crafts. The villagers also process khombow wood (Ficus spp), which is used as their primary carving material. In addition, Babrongko also boasts a bird of paradise observation point which can be developed as an ecotourism location. In order to increase productivity and development in relation to these NTFP products, FORCLIME, working in conjunction with the University of Ottow Geissler Papua (UOGP), is supporting the forest farmers group in the village of Babrongko through a local subsidy scheme, which was introduced to the Isite forest farmers group on 14 April 2023. This activity was opened by the Head of the Village Government of Babrongko, Mr. Orgenes Wally, and was attended by representatives from UOGP and FORCLIME, in addition to KTH Isite members.

Through this local subsidy scheme, mentoring activities are being designed by UOGP, which is led by the Local Subsidy Project Leader, Mr. Frank Leo Apituley, S.Hut., M.Si., who is working in conjunction with the Head of KTH Isite, Mr. Septinus Wally, S.Th., who is also a facilitator for Babrongko. The various activities that are being put together are expected to be in line with the aspirations of the KTH. Meanwhile, financing for the implementation of these activities is being provided by FORCLIME. In the wake of this dissemination event, the Isite forest farmers group are set to develop a business plan in conjunction with the University of Ottow Geissler Papua.

For more information, please contact:
Rut M Ohoiwutun, Junior Advisor for Community Forestry and Customary Forest, Papua
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager, Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces