In order to follow up on the dissemination of information regarding social forestry activities and FORCLIME programmes in the supported villages of Bikar and Emmaus in Tambrauw District and Haha and Wendi in South Sorong District, FORCLIME held a meeting with the West Papua Forestry Service on 24 - 31 July 2022. The series of village meetings was aimed at facilitating the Forest Farmers Group in the development of a work plan. This work plan will help forest farmer groups to secure assistance both from partners such as FORCLIME as well as from government sources through village funds, and will also be used as a guide in relation to the implementation and achieving of common goals.

Topics discussed at the meeting included:
- Identification and completion of administrative documents and equipment needed by forest farmer groups.
- Identification and determination of products set to be developed.

The various products that will be developed through the forest farmer groups in the supported villages in-clude the following:
- Bikar Village:
  KTH Bikar: Lawang and rattan oil
- Emmaus Village:
  KTH Emmaus: Candlenut and honey
- Haha Village:
  KTH Imian: Agarwood
  KTH Sesna: Sago
  KTH Nagi: Sago
- Wendi Village:
   KTH Wendi 1: Agarwood
   KTH Wendi 2: Ants’ nests
   KTH Lembah Hijau: Honey

The meeting also identified various activities that will be implemented, including the following:
- Study trips that relate to group and product management.
- Identification of existing resources.
- Training sessions on product processing, product quality improvement, packaging and branding, market access and opportunities, licensing, stock/resource management, and financial management.

Furthermore, a schedule for the implementation of activities will be drawn up based on mutually agreed priorities.

For more information, please contact:
Melanesia Brigite Boseren, Junior Advisor for Rural Livelihood, Forest Management and Conservation
Nita Yohana, Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for West Papua Province
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces

Created: 08 August 2022

In an effort to encourage and motivate women's groups engaged in the orchid cultivation business, which had been in a poor condition as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lore Lindu Biosphere Reserve (CBLL) Coordination and Communication Forum, in collaboration with FORCLIME, conducted a study visit for the KAREBA Orchid CBL women's orchid group, which operates in the Lore Lindu Biosphere Reserve, from 26 - 30 July 2022. The group visited the Bogor Botanical Gardens, Gino Nursery (Parung), Uli Orchid and the Ragunan Orchid Garden. According to Dr. Sri Ningsih Mallombasang from the Faculty of Forestry at Tadulako University, the orchid group’s instructor, this programme is considered of vital importance in terms of its goal of increasing the knowledge of the women's orchid group about species, cultivation techniques, economic value to orchid networks and markets. Strengthening the capacity for cultivation and the economic value of this orchid supports the conservation of orchids and forest ecosystems in the Lore Lindu Biosphere Reserve area, as it becomes an additional income for the people who live in this area.

During this study visit, participants gained firsthand information and knowledge on the care and cultivation of orchids, including nurseries, pest control and the organization and management of greenhouses. This study visit also contributed to the introduction of the breeding network and the orchid market.

After returning from the visit, the group agreed to undergo a group restructuring process, as well as to prepare a schedule a number of maintenance and to hold regular meetings aimed at the communication of relevant information and shared experiences.

Since 2017, FORCLIME has provided assistance to women's groups that engage in the cultivation of orchids in the villages of Karunia, Rejeki and Bahagia. Various training sessions have been held during this time in the hope of increasing the capacities of women's groups in the three villages as regards the development of orchid cultivation.

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

Created: 08 August 2022

In order to support ecotourism development in the Tabo-Tabo Education and Training Forest, the Environment and Forestry Education and Training Center, the Environmental Generation Development Center and FORCLIME held a technical guidance session on the Development of Eco Edu Tourism in the forest area and its surroundings at the Tabo-Tabo Education and Training Forest Campus from 26 - 28 July 2022. The objective of this activity was to increase the capacities of stakeholders so that they will be able to manage eco-tourism in an environmentally friendly manner within the Tabo-Tabo area. The training session was attended by 30 participants who were representatives of the Tourism Village Forest Farmers Group (Deswita), as well as field assistants from BD LHK Makassar, members of the Tinambung Forest Farmers Group in Bisoloro-Gowa Village and the Tabo-Tabo Village Government. The resource personnel for this training session comprised BD LHK Makassar, the Center for Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships (BPSKL) for the Sulawesi Region, FORCLIME, tourism managers working in Bisoloro and consultants from the East Java Ecotourism Forum (EJEF).

The materials presented during this technical guidance session encompassed:
• Government policies on the development of ecotourism.
• Institutional management of ecotourism.
• Management of ecotourism areas.
• Development of ecotourism products.
• Marketing of ecotourism products.
• Preparation of action plans.

On the second day of the session, participants visited and spoke with community-based ecotourism managers in Bisoloro Village, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi. On the final day of the session, participants identified the support needed in order to follow up on the technical guidance, which include the following:
• The Deswita group requires mentors, particularly BD LHK Makassar empowerment facilitators.
• A cooperation agreement should be prepared in order to ensure legal certainty in relation to the development of ecotourism in Tabo-Tabo.
• Capacity building (including training, internships and mentoring) should be developed for Deswita members in relation to various aspects of ecotourism.
• An ecotourism development plan should be drawn up for the village of Tabo-Tabo.
• Signposts are required in order to support the promotion of ecotourism in Tabo-Tabo.
• A working secretariat should be put in place for ecotourism development purposes.

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

Created: 04 August 2022