Four LPHD (Village forest management institution) participated in a study visit to Lubuk Beringin Village, Jambi Province.
The Segamai and Serapung Village Forests are the first two village forests in Riau Province which were fought for by the community with the assistance of the Yayasan Mitra Insani (YMI) since 2009. As a companion institution, YMI has succeeded in encouraging the community to obtain management rights through the Social Forestry scheme, especially Village Forests. After obtaining management rights in 2017, the Village Forest Management Institute (LPHD) prepared a Social Forestry Management Plan (RKPS) which was approved by the Directorate General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships (PSKL).
As a community empowerment institution, YMI continues to provide post-permit assistance to this day. All YMI-assisted LPHDs remain a priority in implementing various follow-up activities which include strengthening institutional governance, economic business development, and regional and environmental management.
Village Forest
Village Forests, as a form of Social Forestry, face various challenges in institutional, regional, and business governance. Therefore, their management requires collaboration between the Village Forest Management Institution (LPHD), the government, and stakeholders at the village, district, and provincial levels. The Mitra Insani Foundation (YMI) has assisted communities in obtaining Village Forest management rights and continues to encourage LPHD capacity building by learning from successful Village Forest management experiences in other regions.
YMI also encourages LPHDs to collaborate with village governments and communities so that Village Forests can be managed as shared assets that support community welfare in a sustainable and ongoing manner. Integrated Village Forest management with village development encompasses institutional strengthening, economic enterprise development, and territorial and environmental management. In addition to providing economic and ecological benefits, Village Forests also play a role in reducing the potential for social conflict and strengthening community-based natural resource management.
Learning
In a friendly gathering held the day before departure for Jambi Province, the Director of the Mitra Insani Foundation (YMI) explained that the location for the Village Forest management study visit was Lubuk Beringin Hamlet, located within the Bukit Panjang Rantau Bayur (Bujang Raba) Protected Forest area, Bathin III Ulu District, Bungo Regency, Jambi Province. The location was selected based on the results of the preliminary visit by the advance team on August 17–18, 2023. The visit revealed that Lubuk Beringin Hamlet has been involved in the voluntary carbon market since 2018 and has successfully secured carbon funding to support Village Forest management.
Furthermore, Lubuk Beringin Hamlet is considered to have good Village Forest management practices, supported by the active role of the hamlet government. The hamlet government provides strong support for Village Forest management and is able to build effective coordination with various institutions at the hamlet level and between hamlets in the Bujang Raba landscape. This makes Lubuk Beringin Hamlet an ideal location for learning and sharing experiences in sustainable Village Forest management.
A six-day study visit to the Lubuk Beringin Village Forest in Jambi Province took place from August 26–31, 2023, including round trip travel. The visit involved four Village Forest Management Institutions (LPHDs) and their partner village governments: the LPHD and the Segamai Village Government, the LPHD and the Teluk Lanus Village Government, the LPHD and the Rawa Mekar Jaya Village Government, and the LPHD and the Sungai Linau Village Government.
This study visit aimed to improve the capacity of the LPHDs and village governments in Village Forest management, particularly in institutional aspects, business governance, and area management. The learning materials covered the organizational structure and main duties of the LPHD, financial management, institutional relationships between the LPHD and the village government, the economic benefits of the Village Forest, and the development of the Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) under the auspices of the LPHD in Lubuk Beringin Hamlet.
The LPHD in Lubuk Beringin Hamlet is a leading example of success in managing the economic potential of Village Forests. Various businesses have been developed, including environmental services through ecotourism, the utilization of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as manau rattan, the development of agroforestry systems, and the management of potential herbal plants. Furthermore, the Lubuk Beringin Hamlet LPHD has been involved in the voluntary carbon market since 2018 and has successfully secured carbon funding to support sustainable Village Forest management.
Another important aspect of learning is the Village Forest security system. The Lubuk Beringin Hamlet LPHD has formed a patrol team involving youth members and routinely secures and monitors the forest area. These patrols are supported by the village government, including through health insurance (BPJS) funding for patrol team members, funded by Village Funds.
In terms of institutional and business management, the Lubuk Beringin Hamlet LPHD has also successfully established and developed a Community Unit (KUPS) specializing in manau rattan management and herbal plant cultivation. Furthermore, the LPHD has implemented area restructuring through boundary marking and zoning of the Village Forest to support more effective and sustainable management.
Lubuk Beringin Village Forest holds significant historical significance as it was one of the first Village Forest permits in Indonesia. Its management is supported by KKI WARSI and serves as an example of good practice in Village Forest management, integrating institutional, economic, social, and environmental aspects in a sustainable manner.
Sustainability
In the final session of the study visit in Lubuk Beringin Village, participants participated in a field trip to various Village Forest management locations. This activity included field visits to community-managed forest areas and economic development areas, including coffee production that has progressed to the marketing stage. Through these activities, participants gained a first-hand understanding of Village Forest management practices that integrate conservation and community economic development.
The conclusion of this study visit, carried out under the Sustainable Collaboration Program, is expected to increase the motivation, knowledge, and insight of the participants from the Village Forest Management Units (LPHD) assisted by the Yayasan Mitra Insani (YMI) from Siak, Bengkalis, and Pelalawan Regencies, Riau Province. The experiences and lessons learned during the visit are expected to encourage the strengthening of collaborative Village Forest management after obtaining management permits from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).
Furthermore, this activity is expected to build understanding among stakeholders regarding the importance of collaboration in Village Forest management. With the synergy between LPHD, village government, regional government, and other related parties, Village Forest management can run more effectively, sustainably, and provide greater benefits for community welfare and environmental sustainability.
Writer : Ulil Amri
