Professor of IPB: Community Forests of Indonesia below Six Percent
Professor of the Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) Prof.Dr Hardjanto in his scientific speech entitled "Community Forest Management: Challenges of World and Science; Practice for the Future", said the government is currently talking about substitution of timber supply from the community forests. However, It is only 1-5% of the total forest area. The total area of the state forest is 95-99%, thus be it poor or good, the performance of the forestry sector has been dependent on the state forests.
"The community forest is managed by communities, while the state forest by the state. State forest management practices in Indonesia since the Dutch era have been carried out on the basis of forest management science from Europe. As for the management of community forest, it was only initiated in early 90s, so there are many aspects and knowledge have no support of scientific truth. It becomes a scientific challenge in the future," he said during a press conference before the oration at Baranangsiang campus of IPB Bogor, (6/10).
According to him, only two public universities focus on developing the science of community forest management, IPB and University of Gadjah Mada (UGM). Forest management in Indonesia still puts the interests of human beings (in economic terms), while the other ecosystem functions are not as yet considered. The decreasing contribution of our Ministry of Forestry performance is because it is more concerned with human interests. One of the historical evidence suggests that from the establishment of the Department of Forestry up to now the problems of reforestation failures have continued to occur.
"This kind of thought is not only among the industrialists present but also in the world of bureaucrats, politicians and even academicians. People are not aware or have not been taught about the’miracle’ dimensions of the forests but given a superficial economic view of
The performance of the forestry sub-sector has dropped for a century. Now, the forest management is still in a decline. Such condition is recognized by foresters and forest enthusiasts and observers, but apparently they have not been able to find a way out to overcome it.
Community forest initially includes only the forest located on a privately-owned land. In its development, it is meant to be the forest made by the people, for examples Community Plantation Forest (HTR), Community Forest (HKM), village forest and custom forest. Similarly, It includes the state forest such as conservation areas planted by the community, also claimed as community forests.
"Community forest businesses turn out be to very sluggish in progress. Various practical problems are still a constraint to some management aspects. In other words, community forest management still does not have enough chance to grow. The hope is the community forest management can become better by balancing the role of community forests and state forests. State forest areas are made accessible for the community to plant," he said. (Mtd)
