Implementation of Social Forestry Management in Forest Areas with Special Management

Relevant Policy of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation Number 4 of 2023 at KTH Sendang Agung Rejo (SAR) 2, Sogo Village, Kedungtuban District, Blora Regency, Central Java Province

Abstract

Social Forestry (SF) is fundamentally designed to enhance community welfare while promoting environmental sustainability. Ministerial Regulation of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) No. 4 of 2023 seeks to accelerate the governance of Social Forestry programs with the dual aim of advancing local livelihoods and preserving forest ecosystems. The regulation is envisioned as a mechanism for fostering economic equity and creating better livelihood opportunities for rural communities. This research specifically explores two core inquiries: first, how the aforementioned regulation is being implemented on the ground; and second, the extent to which local Forest Farmer Groups (Kelompok Tani Hutan or KTH) possess the institutional capacity to manage the policy effectively. Adopting a qualitative methodology, the study focuses on the administration of Social Forestry within Forest Areas with Special Management (KHDPK) located in Sogo Village, Kedungtuban Subdistrict, Blora Regency, Central Java. The findings reveal that the affirmative policy framework encompasses a range of components, including governance authorization, forest management activities, facilitation, asset utilization, capacity building, monitoring, and funding mechanisms. These elements have been enacted at the provincial level in Central Java. However, at the regency level—specifically in Blora—implementation remains at the facilitation stage, led by Forestry Branch Office 1 (Cabang Dinas Kehutanan or CDK 1). Current facilitation efforts emphasize the cultivation of teak, eucalyptus, mahogany, sengon, johar, maize, and banana. Despite constraints related to limited financial resources and weak institutional infrastructure, the facilitative efforts—driven largely by the commitment of CDK personnel—have succeeded in fostering a sense of community self-reliance. This grassroots initiative is manifested through community-driven contributions such as the provision of seedlings, fertilizers, land management funding, and maintenance efforts. In conclusion, Social Forestry as an affirmative policy holds significant promise for improving rural livelihoods and ensuring forest conservation. It provides a framework for achieving distributive justice and expanding local economic opportunities, offering renewed hope for marginalized communities engaged in forest management.