Prof Ahmad Budiaman: The Key to Sustainable Community Forests Lies in Appropriate Harvesting
Amidst the hustle and bustle of state forestry policies and industrial forest plantation development, community forests are increasingly asserting their role.
“Despite limited land and capital, community forests are now saving timber supplies. But the support they receive is far from adequate,” said Prof Ahmad Budiaman, Professor of Small-Scale Forest Harvesting at IPB University, during his Scientific Lecture on 8/30.
In 2023, the contribution of community forests to national roundwood production reached 15 percent, displacing natural production forests, which only accounted for 7 percent. Ironically, the government’s attention is still largely focused on industrial timber plantations (HTI) controlled by large corporations.
Over the past six decades, Indonesia’s forestry policies have focused more on the management of state forests. However, the results have left many problems in their wake: deforestation, illegal logging, agrarian disputes, and environmental damage.
In contrast, community forests managed by farmers using agroforestry systems continue to grow despite inadequate facilities. Farmers still face complicated permits, limited access to capital, and timber prices that are suppressed by middlemen.
“If community timber contributes 15 percent of the national supply, the question is, why hasn’t the government made community forests a priority?” said Prof Ahmad.
He added that community forests that are developed independently without financial support from the government should be given concessions. “In developed countries, forest development on privately owned land is compensated in the form of development costs. In Indonesia, I don’t know when that will happen,” he said.
One of the classic problems in community forests is the practice of cutting down trees for urgent needs. Farmers often cut down trees to pay for school, health care, or other urgent needs. This pattern often conflicts with the principles of sustainable forest management, which requires long-term planning.
“Logging for immediate needs is difficult to predict, making it difficult to plan for sustainable forests. The solution is not loans, which are a burden, but institutions such as cooperatives with incentives that encourage farmers,” said Prof Ahmad.
Prof Ahmad believes that solutions must be offered through environmentally friendly and appropriate harvesting techniques. This method can reduce damage to food crops while maintaining the sustainability of community forests.
“Research shows that rope-assisted logging techniques can minimize damage. Meanwhile, manual methods and motorcycles are quite effective for short-distance transportation,” he explained.
However, he warned that without serious policy intervention, technological innovations such as this have the potential to remain at the research stage.
Furthermore, Prof Ahmad said there are six urgent issues that need to be addressed by the government: regular training, simplification of permits, marketing facilitation, forest development compensation, periodic inventory, and access to sustainable certification.
“The question is no longer whether community forests are important, but whether the state truly supports small farmers, or continues to favor large industries?” Prof Ahmad concluded rhetorically. (IAAS/STD)
