This socialization activity is carried out on Wednesday, 7/21/2021 through hybrid method, namely actual in-person located at Grand Antares Hotel, Medan and virtually through zoom meeting. There are 30 actual participants and 150 virtual participants, consisting of elements of the North Sumatra Provincial Forestry Service, Forest Management Units (KPH), UPT LHK, City/Regency Environmental Services throughout North Sumatra, Social Forestry Group (KPS), KPS Facilitators, NGOs, universities, environmentalists and others.

The socialization started at 08.00am, initiated by remarks from Dr. Rudi Hartono, S.Hut., M.Si., as USU’s Dean of the Faculty of Forestry. In his remarks the Dean conveys brief profile of LPPS Harangan. It was established on the collaboration of Pesona Tropis Alam Indonesia (PETAI) Foundation and the Faculty of Forestry of the University of North Sumatra (Fahutan USU). The Dean also said that Fahutan USU will always support and actively involves in the implementation and development of social forestry program. Furthermore, right now Fahutan USU is implementing the Independent Learning-Independent Campus (MBKM) program that urgently requires partners in its implementation. Social Forestry Program, especially in KPS, can be a place for students especially from the Faculty of Forestry to carry out this MBKM program.

After the remarks from the Dean of Fahutan USU, the session is continued with remarks and opening of the socialization activity by Dr. Ir. Bambang Supriyanto, M.Sc., as the Director General of PSKL – Ministry of LHK virtually. The Director General of PSKL conveys that general description of Permen LHK No.9/2021 concerning Social Forestry Management, in which according to him, the social forestry has “upgraded.” That program already has a strong legal umbrella, namely Law No. 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation and the Government Regulation No.23 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Forestry. Therefore, currently the social forestry has become one of the development priorities in Indonesia, as well as a forest management system in Indonesia in supporting forest sustainability and public welfare.

There are two speakers in the socialization and discussion sessions, they are Ir. Herianto, M.Si., as the Head of Forestry Service of North Sumatra Province and the Head of BPSKL of Sumatra Region, Apri Dwi Sumarah, S.Hut., M.Sc., MSE., and Dr. Odin Affandi, S.Hut., MP, Lecturer of the Faculty of Forestry of USU as the moderator whom also the Head of LPPS Harangan

The first speaker, Ir. Herianto, M.Si., conveys in his presentation that a permit of social forestry management in North Sumatra Province has been issued for an area of 68,409.51Ha which is given to 133 KPS with details: Community Forestry (HKm) 39,294.29Ha (74 KPS), Community Plantation Forest (HTR): 16,595.61 Ha (15 KPS); Village Forest (HD): 4,196 Ha (13 KPS); forestry (KK): 5,929.78 Ha (30 KPS); and Customary Forest (HA): 2,393.83 Ha (1 KPS).

This achievement is still considered as low (only 12.42%) compares to the target to be achieved that is around 550,887 Ha. In order to accelerate the target achievement, the Regional Government (Pemda) of North Sumatra Province has made Social Forestry program as one of policy priorities in forestry development.

To support these priorities, Pemda of North Sumatra Province has established strategies, policy direction, and programs for the period of 2019-2023 to support the Social Forestry program. One of the policies that have been made at the moment is the establishment of North Sumatra Province Working Group for the Acceleration of Social Forestry (Pokja PPS) which later will be functioned in assisting KPS, both during pre-permit and post-permit period for the social forestry management. In the future, a Regional Regulation concerning the Facility of Social Forestry in North Sumatra Province is also be drafted.

Meanwhile, the second speaker, Apri Dwi Sumarah, S.Hut., M.Sc., MSE, conveys about the details of Permen LHK No. 9 of 2021 concerning Social Forestry Management. Based on Permen LHK No. 9 of 2021, Social Forestry is a sustainable forest management system carried out within state forest area or Forest of Rights/Customary Forest by local people or customary/traditional community as the main actors to improve their welfare, balancing the environment and cultural socio dynamics in a form of Village Forest, Community Forest, Community Plantation Forest, Customary and Partnership Forest. This ministerial regulation regulates the Approval of Social Forestry Management, Social Forestry Management Activities, Social Forestry in Peat Ecosystem, Community Garden Improvement Term, guidance, supervision and control, acceleration of Social Forestry Management and administrative sanctions. On the sidelines of his presentation, the Head of BPSKL of Sumatra Region sincerely hopes that the stakeholders are able to play roles in the development of social forestry program so that provides positive impacts on the forest and the community.

Led by the Head of LPPS Harangan the discussion session went very dynamic with many questions from both virtual and actual participants. The number of questions raised related with new things in Permen LHK No.9 of 2021 when it is being compared to the previous Permen LHK, namely LHK No.83 concerning Social Forestry.(©ULC)

Author: Dr. Agus Purwoko, S.Hut, M.Si - Forestry

Interviewee: - - -

Photographer: Tim Yayasan PETAI - Forestry