Enhancing The Role of Zakat and Waqf on Social Forestry Program in Indonesia

Abstract

This research aims to initiate the integration model of zakat-waqf with Social Forestry Program. The study is a conceptual paper and qualitative using secondary data and descriptively analyzed. It reviews several existing models related to Zakat and Waqf's role in financing the agriculture and forestry sectors to formulating a novel model for poverty alleviation from communities in and around forests expected to reduce forest destructions in Indonesia. The study concluded that zakat-waqf could finance the Social Forestry program to overcome poverty, inequality and increase the welfare of people living in and around forests. It will provide economic and ecological benefits, especially in reducing forest damage. This research can encourage other researchers to explore the potential of zakat-waqf for financing forestry sectors.Abstrak: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menginisasi model integrasi zakat dan wakaf dengan program Perhutanan Sosial. Penelitian adalah riset konseptual yang menggunakan data sekunder dan analisis deskriptif. Penelitian ini mengulas beberapa model eksisting mengenai peran zakat dan wakaf dalam membiayai sektor pertanian dan kehutanan untuk menyusun formula baru yang diharapkan mampu menjadi solusi kemiskinan masyarakat di dalam dan sekitar hutan, yang kemudian diharapkan menurunkan tingkat kebakaran dan kerusakan hutan di Indonesia. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa zakat dan wakaf dapat menjadi sumber pembiayaan program Perhutanan Sosial untuk mengatasi kemiskinan, kesenjangan, dan meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat di dalam dan sekitar hutan. Program ini dapat memberikan manfaat ekonomi dan ekologi, spesifiknya untuk mengurangi kerusakan hutan. Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat mendorong peneliti-peneliti lain untuk menganalisis lebih lanjut mengenai potensi zakat dan wakaf untuk membiayai sektor kehutanan.

Addressing Maqasid-based Waqf for Life on Land (SDG-15): A Delphi Application

“…The next finding related to waqf for SDGs 15 is waqf for social. The results of this study support research from Ali et al (2021) which explains that waqf can be a source of financing for Social Forestry programs to overcome poverty, inequality, and improve the welfare of communities in and around forests. The program can provide economic and ecological benefits, specifically to reduce forest destruction.…”

“…In terms of sustainable development, waqf for the environment provides a balance between development and environmental protection, where on the one hand development is carried out for the welfare of the community and on the other hand environmental conservation activities are carried out in an integral and sustainable manner by reforesting the land derived from waqf with various plants, as well as planting the land with plants obtained from waqf. Ali et al (2021) explained in their research that waqf can be a source of financing for Social Forestry programs to overcome poverty, inequality, and improve the welfare of communities in and around forests. The program can provide economic and ecological benefits, specifically to reduce forest destruction.…”

Waqf and Waste: An Unexplored Potentials

“…Rather, in the era of Prophet Muhammad PBUH and the Four Caliphs, the enaction of Hima (conservation area), Harim (protected area), and Ihya Al Mawat (reviving dead land) are known [20] [21] to encourage muslim to preserve the nature as the source of life and as mandated by Allah to human. Nowadays, the concept of environmental protection is greatly expanded through the involvement of instruments of Islamic Social Finance, namely zakat (mandatory alms) and waqf [22]. Most of the initiatives launched is to create a protection for the nature and environment through several actions namely the creation of forest waqf to prevent natural disaster [21], Waqf to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) [23] [24] and to achieve socio-economic impact through forest waqf [22].…”

“…Nowadays, the concept of environmental protection is greatly expanded through the involvement of instruments of Islamic Social Finance, namely zakat (mandatory alms) and waqf [22]. Most of the initiatives launched is to create a protection for the nature and environment through several actions namely the creation of forest waqf to prevent natural disaster [21], Waqf to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) [23] [24] and to achieve socio-economic impact through forest waqf [22]. Despite all the initiatives, there is a need for a proper and established regulatory framework to achieve said goal, because protecting nature and environment is as important as protecting the human himself as stipulated in Sharia through Maqasid As-Shariah [25].…”

“…The concept of waqf on waste management is an attempt to give options for the community and the government and push waqf on the light of public service but based on the contributions of individuals and communities. As of now, the research on waqf is mostly based on productive waqf for poverty alleviation or other socio-economics issues [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] but only a handful of the research discuss the public function of waqf on environmental protection or enhancement [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] and almost none on waste management, as it is under the jurisdiction of government which in charge of public service duties as stipulated in constitution. This concept has its own advantages compared to current practices: 1.…”