Social Forestry is one of the main focuses of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s work to improve the welfare of communities around forests. This policy is also the legal basis for communities living around forest areas (who have a history of cultivating the forest, depending on the forest, and whose activities can affect the forest ecosystem) to manage state forest areas. Social forestry areas cover 12.7 million hectares spread throughout Indonesia.
Legal access to forest management is made via one of five management schemes. First, the village forest scheme (HD), which is a state forest whose management rights are given to village institutions for village welfare. Second, community forests (HKm), namely state forests whose main use is aimed at empowering local communities. Third, community plantations (HTR/IPHPS), namely plantations in production forests that were built by community groups to increase the potential and quality of production forests by applying silviculture to ensure sustainability of forest resources. Fourth, customary forest (HA), namely forest within the territory of customary forest communities. Fifth, forestry partnership, where there is cooperation between local communities, forest managers, holders of forest utilization business permits, forest lease-to-use permits, or forest product primary industry business permits.
