Giving access to the management of a forest to the community can lead to sustainable resource extraction and regeneration. The aim of the Small Grants Program for Operations to Promote Tropical Forest is to enable individuals, indigenous groups, farmers and entire communities to benefit from forest resources through socially acceptable, economically viable and environmentally sound methods. The SGPPTFF venture is funded by the European Commission (EC) and managed by the United Nations and their partners. Started in 2002 (and launched in Indonesia in 2005), the attached report highlights the first five years of implementation and gathered best practices that the organization hopes will spread to other communities and grassroots coalitions. http://www.searca.org/ptf/temp/docs/Indonesia_CH.pdf
Since the program’s inception, 32 Grants and training were provided to various NGO's and CBO's. All told, 397 community groups were assisted by these grants affecting 20,000 households:
- Conservation of 384,748 hectares (948 acres) of national parks and forest
- Rehabilitation of 114,842 hectares (282 acres) of existing forest area
- Agro forestry implemented in existing forest areas 1,55,603 ha (3,800 acres)
The method that the SGPPTF affiliates applied was to build a strong coalition that combined local knowledge, conservation and sustainability concepts. Each project involved a collaborative stakeholder engagement process beginning with inclusion of community representatives throughout the planning process, research and planning advocacy. Additionally, capacity improvements, such as training and education, focused on shifting from a centralized to local management system.
The results of this effort established powerful farmer coalitions and marketing networks that promoted sustainable best practices and established several strategic approaches:
- Established ecolabel certificate and international sustainable forest management labels.
- Created non-timber forest products.
- Developed an Eco-tourism industry.
- Broke through deadlock of government impasse on forest management indecision in their community.
A wonderful example occurred in Central Java's Pruworejo district community. With the help of a local NGO partner and local government, leaders negotiated an agreement with the forest corporation Perhutani for the community to plant fodder crops as intercrop to the pine forest. The locals needed the fodder for their livestock and the government needed a more diverse forest cover for the local watershed.
The major ingredient of any land-use solution is building trust, and this takes time. Through the SGTTPF program multi-stakeholder mediation, access to information, negotiation, and autonomy of local governments has been applied to determine best management practices and land-use rights. Local people, including marginalized communities, now have more power over the private sector’s interests that benefit only a few. Illegal logging from paper company pressures is an example of the problems that can be mitigated as a result of this process.
Despite this encouraging report, it must be noted that Indonesia’s vulnerable populations and forests are not out of the woods yet. Self-interest and greed can still be a powerful conflict that might lead to mismanagement and corruption. There is the possibility that the more powerful these farmers groups get, that their put their demands above the government's ability to provide for the common good and preservation of Java’s biodiversity. For instance, the more roads built will lead to more access to forests that were previously inaccessible and assumably lead to exploitation of wildlife habitat. Furthermore, if tree plantings are for agro-purposes, then how will this alter biodiversity of the forest? Planting a variety of species must be part of a sustainable management plan otherwise the forests may become more similar to a farm with homogenous plant species. Hopefully, these programs will be monitored by the stakeholders to avoid the unintended environmental consequences that may occur over time. Instilling new social norms and creating understanding of the value of sustainable practices can help avoid these possible outcomes.
Community forestry improves the livelihood of the local people, thus brings about social change. Recipients are vested in the land and must responsibly use it to ensure their communities prosperity for generations. The networks that are being established will help ensure the continued success of these programs by the sharing of best practices through outreach, training and education programs.
--Amy Hammes
