Farmer Forest as Main Role Actors of Social Forestry Programme

Abstract

Abstract

The social forestry program of the environment and forestry ministry was rolled out to provide opportunities for communities around the forest to be directly involved in state forest management. The problem is, some of the people around the forest who are participants of the social forestry program are low educated and have low capacity and capability so the program has not shown brilliant results. This article aims to reveal the condition of the community participants in the social forestry program and provide solutions to steps that must be taken so that the community is ready to become a forest management actor. The study was conducted in 2014-2015 at the location of Gunungkidul Community Forestry (CF or HKm in Indonesian), which is the location of the earliest social forestry scheme implemented. The study was conducted using observation and interview methods and literature studies. Data and information obtained were analyzed descriptively and compared with information from other regions obtained through literature studies. The results of the study show that most social forestry farmers still have difficulties, especially in the administration of forest management and local economic development (cooperatives). The capacity and capability of farmers in one farmer group are mostly unequal, there is no equal distribution of capacity. The solution that must be taken so that farmers are ready to become forest management actors is by providing continuous assistance, strengthening the local economy and equitable distribution of farmers' knowledge through training and sharing of knowledge from advanced farmers to other farmers.

Key words: forest farmer, social forestry, community forestry, forest management