For APL (Non-State-Owned Forest Area) forests, lacking legal protection and reliant on voluntary conservation, quality data on forest cover is crucial. The Kalfor project addressed the need for accurate forest cover data in APL areas. Initially, the existing data was unreliable. MoEF through KalFor facilitation, improved data accuracy using high-resolution remote-sensing from LAPAN collaborating with provincial universities This revised data, showing a total HCVF area of 347,922ha in four districts, provided a solid foundation for decision-making and highlighted the project's commitment to accuracy and empirically-driven, evidence-based practice.
University partners played a key role in deepening knowledge, classifying APL forests by High Conservation Value (HCV) types, and mapping different areas. This scientific approach boosted stakeholder appreciation for forest conservation. Kalfor's role as a bridge between academia and governments facilitated informed, long-term decision-making, enhancing institutional capacity.
Kalfor learned that while quality data is vital in convincing stakeholders of conservation needs, it's not sufficient alone. Decision-making often overlooks conservation values, focusing instead on other interests. Emphasizing the limited scope of remaining APL forests and their vulnerability to conversion is crucial. Real-world impacts of this approach include East Kalimantan's use of geospatial data and Ketapang district stakeholders' engagement in forest cover analysis. Accurate data reporting on regulatory impacts and socio-economic outcomes is essential for comprehensive forest protection and project evaluation.
Strategic Stakeholder Engagement in APL Forest Management
Farmer Business School, "Local Champion Empowerment Program in Forest Area Management in Non-State Owned Forest Area in Sintang and Ketapang District of West Kalimantan Province" has been implemented by Tropenbos Indonesia.
- UNDP Indonesia_KALFOR
“Farmer Business School” (FBS) to increase the entrepreneurial and business management capacity of local champions and entrepreneurs.
- UNDP Indonesia_KALFOR
“Farmer Business School” (FBS) to increase the entrepreneurial and business management capacity of local champions and entrepreneurs.
- UNDP Indonesia_KALFOR
“Farmer Business School” (FBS) to increase the entrepreneurial and business management capacity of local champions and entrepreneurs.
- UNDP Indonesia_KALFOR
The Kalfor project addresses the Management of Kalimantan's APL (Non-State-Owned Forest Area) forests, threatened by conversion to palm oil plantations. With jurisdiction over these lands contested among various ministries and no specific legislation for their protection, Kalfor recognized the need for wide stakeholder engagement. This approach involves educating and building consensus among government agencies, local communities, private sector, and academia about the ecological and economic benefits of conserving APL forests.
Key to this process has been a multi-stakeholder consultation approach, involving diverse groups from government, private sector, civil society, and academia in the development of new regulations. Flexibility in strategy, adapting to political changes, and leveraging local initiatives based on stakeholder interests have been crucial. In Central Kalimantan, for example, Kalfor's adaptable approach facilitated the endorsement of two Governor Decrees for forest conservation.
Kalfor's experience highlights the importance of building strong, wide stakeholder ownership and commitment at all levels. While the project has surpassed its goal of legally protecting over 644,374 ha of APL forest, challenges remain. Pursuing strategic conservation, especially prioritizing high conservation value forests and ensuring their intactness, is still an ongoing task. At the village level, integrating APL forest management into local development plans has proven effective in aligning conservation with community economic and cultural goals. The project demonstrates that in a complex political, economic, and legal landscape, fostering stakeholder engagement and adaptability is key to successful forest conservation.
