Three Generations of Forest Peoples' Empowerment in Indonesia: Process Towards Sustainable and Equitable Forest Management

Abstract

Human activities that alter land cover have destroyed natural ecosystems and caused conflict. In Indonesia, community-based forest management (CBFM) policies implemented by the government seek to empower communities, ameliorate forest conversion, and reduce environmental conflict. This article critically assesses contemporary CBFM policy in Indonesia by analyzing its history and outcomes through policy analysis. To systematically review previous literature on CBFM, this research uses the PRISMA method. It finds that communities are often able to manage forest areas sustainably through sociocultural systems that combine management customs and culture. Empowerment through CBFM policy therefore promises to promote community subsistence, equity, and security regarding forest management. However, granting total resource rights to communities can result in land conversion unless managerial safeguards are in place. Many studies find that the clarity of land boundaries, the consistency of regulation, and the partiality of land governance drive CBFM program success. To facilitate land governance for the successful implementation of Indonesian social forestry, communities need access rights, authority to manage forests, and sufficient knowledge transfer to participate in formal forest management. In contrast to previous iterations of CBFM in Indonesia, current social forestry policy acknowledges these governance needs and seeks to implement them.

Understanding People−Forest Relationships: A Key Requirement for Appropriate Forest Governance in South Sumatra, Indonesia

“…Third, the villages directly adjacent to the company's management concession area. The lack of land and forest boundary clarity is the main problem found in the conflicted villages, whereas the clarity of land rights (ownership status) could be used as a land management basis for both the applicant and the government in developing programs and policies for community empowerment [92]. Historical clarification and boundaries can be observed for the lands in the form of villages and public and social services within the forest zone.…”

Assessing the Sustainability of NTFP-Based Community Enterprises: A Viable Business Model for Indonesian Rural Forested Areas

“…In Indonesia, the engagement of communities in forest management has progressed to the third generation [25], with the most recent version being the social forestry initiative [26]. In fact, social forestry can deliver advantages, with a variety of opportunities for active community involvement [27].…”

Collaborative Governance Effort to Manage Forest in Kalimantan Island: Literature Review

“…Besides that, collaborative governance is specifically a system that can be affected culture and customs in the circle of cooperations so that problems can be solved with certain approaches including culture and customs. (Ansell & Gash, 2008;2017;Harbi et al, 2020). The aims to be achieved in this research is to be able to map out how the efforts of collaborative governance in forest management are based on local communities on the island of Kalimantan so that later it can be as input to all parties in conducting excellent and sustainable forest management.…”