PALANGKARAYA - President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, directly handed over the Village Forest Management Rights (HPHD) of Harowu, Rangan Hiran and Rambang covering an area of 3,046 Ha as well as the Community Forest Utilization Business License (IUP-HKm) in Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan on Tuesday (20/12).

The government's commitment in preparing the Social Forestry area has been stated in the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) which states that the area of forest managed by the community is targeted at 12.7 million hectares and managed in the form of Community Forests (HKm), Village Forests (HD), Community Plantation Forests (HTR), Community Forests (HR), Customary Forests (HA) and Forestry Partnerships.

HD Harowu covering an area of approximately 1,730 Ha and HD Rangan Hiran covering an area of approximately 850 Ha are located within the Bukit Batu Karung Protected Forest area, which buffers the Muller mountain range, Heart of Borneo (HoB). Since long ago, the livelihoods of the people of the two villages have depended on the forest and it cannot be denied that the forest provides benefits, both direct and indirect to the community, including as a place to meet the needs of food, medicine, clean water, erosion control, regulate water systems and provide a source of income for the community. This village forest area is the catchment area for the source of the Micro Hydro Power Plant (PLTMH) which was built in collaboration with BNI 46, WWF-Indonesia, and the Gunung Mas Regency Government, since 2013.

"WWF-Indonesia Central Kalimantan Program has been and continues to provide technical assistance to villages located in the Muller Schwaner Ecosystem Area which is within the ecological area of the Heart of Borneo (HoB), considering that this area is one of the representatives of the remaining tropical rainforests in Indonesia and has been designated as a National Strategic Area through Presidential Regulation No. 3 of 2012. We are certainly happy and appreciative to KLHK for the good response during the approval process in Jakarta, and with the granting of management rights and forest area utilization permits for sustainable management to these two villages, we hope that it will be able to provide benefits to the surrounding community," said Rosenda Kasih, Program Manager of WWF Indonesia in Palangka Raya.

The Regent of Gunung Mas, Arton S. Dohong, said that the issuance of the HPHD Decree (SK) for Harowu Village Forest, Rangan Hiran and Rabambang was good news for the community.

"For development and utilization, I think the village forest is very beneficial for the village community. We hope that village forests must receive attention and support from all central and regional circles in developing their management. Village forests can generate profits and improve the economy for local communities. Currently, the Harowu and Rangan Hiran Village Forests are located in the Upper Miri River and are statused as forest areas with the function of Protection Forest, with the forest conditions still pristine (primary). This area is important and is a water catchment area for the Kahayan watershed which we must protect, "said Arton.

Forest management strategy through Social Forestry scheme is the right step in determining the future of forest area. This is expected to be able to provide benefits to local communities who have lived their lives from the beginning by utilizing forest products around their place of residence. The community is given the trust to manage the forest, maintain, and utilize it as well as possible, so as to provide a guaranteed contribution to life and welfare, and on the other hand it is also expected that the quality of the forest will be maintained and sustainable.

"With the condition of the forest ecosystem that is still good, a source of clean water, and a habitat for high biodiversity, the Harowu and Rangan Hiran Village Forest areas are important areas for the community's livelihood. I am very happy with the issuance of this HPHD Decree. I would like to thank all parties who support the development of social forestry in Gunung Mas Regency, especially to WWF-Indonesia, which has been assisting and helping communities in remote villages in the Heart of Kalimantan," added Arton.

Good forest management will guarantee a better life, give people broad access to the forest, as well as provide learning for the community to maintain its sustainability.

For more information, please contact:

1. Karnalo, Muller Schwaner Officer; Email. karnalo@wwf.id, Mobile.081258211551
2. Ambang Wijaya, Landscape Program Leader, Muller Schwaner Arabela; Email: ambangw@wwf.id, Mobile: 0811-520-9959

WWF Indonesia, Central Kalimantan
Jalan Krakatau No. 12, Palangka Raya