Title:

Social Forestry and The Rise of Market-Based Forest Management in Indonesia

A case of Wana Lestari Menoreh Forest Cooperative in Jogjakarta

By: Yuri Pratama Widiyana; Telapak Institute

Abstract:
The deforestation growth in Indonesia reach its tipping point in the first years of the new millenia
with up to 2 million hectare per year. The case is still happened up until now although the
government issued a moratorium act that rejects new consessions on forest timber since early
20111. Based on the fact, we need a new approach that comes from various best practices. We know
that the opportunity of long-term sustainable forest management can only be maximize if the
ownership and the rights of forest management were in the hand of the local, indigenous people
who build their livelihood based on the forest resources.

The indigenous people will have their confidence on their visionary view of their livelihood and start
to invest on how to manage the forest in a more sustianable way when they can get guaranteed
access of the forest resources through legal assurance of their land2. This scheme were now being
adopted by the Indonesian government through its social forestry national program under direct
supervision from the president himself, Mr. Joko Widodo3.

But legal assurance wont impact much without the leverage of social capital and market-based
approach by the community. This paper will highlighting the importance of shaping the social capital
and constructing the governance in a succesfull social forestry initiative that has been done by the
Wana Lestari Menoreh Forest Co-op (with assistance from Telapak Association). in Jogjakarta Region
The co-op, since a decade ago has been delivering positive economical and environmental impact to
their members whom are the local forrester. Turning illegal loggers in the community into
sustainable forest farmer and producing high quality wood products that has been certified by
Forest Stewardship Council and being sold worldwide. This market-based approach by the
community transforming itself into social enterprise.

Keywords: social forestry, market-based approach, forest cooperatives, social enterprise

1
Simanjuntak, Martha. “Forest Watch Indonesia: Laju Deforestasi Indonesia Tertinggi.” (Januari 15, 2015.)
Access October 28, 2018. https://www.antaranews.com/berita/474271/fwi-laju-deforestasi-indonesia-
tertinggi
2
Patunru, Arianto and Haryoko, Anthea. “Countering Deforestation by Encouraging The Society Rights-
Ownership of The Forest.” Center for Indonesian Policy Studies. 2015
3
Kominfo. “Perhutanan Sosial, Kini Masyarakat Legal Mengelola Hutan.” (September 8, 2017). Access October
28, 2018. https://kominfo.go.id/index.php/content/detail/10564/perhutanan-sosial-kini-masyarakat-legal-
mengelola-hutan/0/artikel_gpr