Community Forestry in Bireuen Doubles Incomes, Jernang Resin Drives Highest Profits
Community-based forest management in Alue Simantok, Bireuen Regency, Aceh, has doubled local household incomes, with jernang resin emerging as the most profitable commodity. The findings were published in 2026 in the International Journal of Sustainable Social Science by Sri Julidar, S.P., M.Si., Dr. Halus Satriawan, S.Hut., M.Si., and Ridwan Iriadi, S.P., M.Si., from Universitas Almuslim, Indonesia. Conducted between October and December 2024, the study shows that legally managed community forests can significantly improve rural welfare—while also exposing farmers to market volatility if value chains remain weak.
The research focuses on the Alue Simantok Community Forest (Hutan Kemasyarakatan/HKm), a 766-hectare area in Hagu Village, Peudada District. The site was officially designated under Indonesia’s Social Forestry program in 2020. Since then, local farmer groups have been granted legal access to manage and harvest non-timber forest products (NTFPs), including jernang resin (Daemonorops draco), wild honey (Apis dorsata), stingless bee honey (Trigona species), and rattan (Calamus species).
Why Social Forestry Matters
Indonesia’s Social Forestry policy aims to reduce poverty, prevent illegal logging, and strengthen environmental stewardship by giving local communities legal management rights. In many forest-edge villages, limited land ownership and unstable income have historically driven unsustainable practices.
Alue Simantok offers a real-world test of whether social forestry can deliver both economic and environmental sustainability. The research by Universitas Almuslim provides one of the most detailed financial assessments of a community forest in Aceh.
How the Study Was Conducted
Sri Julidar and her colleagues used a mixed-method approach. They surveyed all 61 members of the local Forest Farmer Group (Kelompok Tani Hutan/KTH), making the study a full census rather than a sample survey.
The team collected:
-Income and production data for each commodity
-Operational cost data
-Information on marketing channels and institutional support
-Qualitative insights through interviews and field observation
To measure business feasibility, the researchers calculated the Revenue-to-Cost (R/C) ratio. A ratio above 1 indicates profit. The higher the ratio, the more financially viable the enterprise.
Key Findings: Income Doubled
The study reports that average monthly income among community forest members increased from approximately IDR 1.5 million before the program to around IDR 3 million after active forest management.
Among the four main commodities, jernang resin generated the most striking returns.
Financial Performance of Major Commodities
Jernang Resin
-Annual revenue: IDR 1.209 billion
-Total cost: IDR 9.85 million
-Net profit: IDR 1.199 billion
-R/C ratio: 122.8
Wild Honey
-Annual revenue: IDR 180 million
-R/C ratio: 13.1
Stingless Bee Honey
-Annual revenue: IDR 108 million
-R/C ratio: 6.8
Rattan (raw and processed)
-Annual revenue: IDR 113.6 million
-R/C ratio: 11.8
All four commodities are profitable, but jernang resin stands out due to extremely low production costs and high market value. However, the researchers caution that jernang prices fluctuate significantly. Market prices dropped from IDR 280,000 per kilogram in 2022 to IDR 160,000 per kilogram in 2024.
Sri Julidar of Universitas Almuslim explains that the extraordinary R/C ratio for jernang does not necessarily reflect managerial efficiency. Instead, it represents what economists call “resource rent”—high returns driven by scarcity and global demand.
Value-Added Processing Increases Revenue
The research highlights a clear income difference between selling raw materials and producing finished goods.
For example:
-Raw rattan sales generated around IDR 30 million annually.
-Processed rattan crafts, including fruit baskets and food covers, generated IDR 83.6 million annually.
Investment in a rattan processing machine worth IDR 45 million significantly improved productivity and product quality. Similarly, honey is now sold in labeled bottles rather than in bulk, increasing consumer trust and retail value.
According to Dr. Halus Satriawan from Universitas Almuslim, strengthening downstream processing and branding is essential to reduce dependency on volatile raw commodity markets.
Social and Environmental Impact
Beyond income growth, the study documents positive social changes. Community members report stronger environmental awareness and collective responsibility for forest protection.
Traditional practices such as Kenduri Glee, a forest thanksgiving ceremony, reinforce social cohesion and shared stewardship. Patrol activities and joint maintenance efforts have reduced illegal logging and land encroachment.
Ridwan Iriadi, also from Universitas Almuslim, notes that legal recognition under the Social Forestry scheme gives communities long-term security. “When communities feel secure about their rights, they are more willing to invest in conservation and sustainable harvesting,” he explains in the journal article.
Ongoing Challenges
Despite financial gains, the Alue Simantok HKm still faces structural challenges:
-Limited branding and trademark protection for products
-Weak access to national and export markets
-Heavy reliance on middlemen
-Price volatility for jernang resin
Without stronger institutional structures such as cooperatives or village-owned enterprises, farmers remain vulnerable to market asymmetry.
The researchers recommend:
-Expanding value-added processing, especially for jernang
-Building collective marketing institutions
-Diversifying income through eco-tourism, including the nearby Putroe Waterfall
A diversified portfolio combining high-risk, high-return commodities like jernang with more stable products such as cultivated honey may strengthen long-term resilience.
Broader Implications
The findings from Universitas Almuslim provide evidence that social forestry can serve as a rural economic engine when supported by value-chain development and institutional strengthening.
For policymakers, the study underscores the importance of pairing land-access reform with business development support. For development agencies, it highlights the economic potential of non-timber forest products when communities move beyond raw material sales.
For other forest villages in Indonesia, Alue Simantok offers a replicable model—provided that market access and branding strategies are addressed early.
Author Profiles
Sri Julidar, S.P., M.Si.
Lecturer and researcher at Universitas Almuslim, Bireuen, Indonesia.
Field of expertise: Natural Resource and Environmental Management.
Dr. Halus Satriawan, S.Hut., M.Si.
Senior academic at Universitas Almuslim.
Field of expertise: Forestry Policy and Community Empowerment.
Ridwan Iriadi, S.P., M.Si.
Researcher at Universitas Almuslim.
Field of expertise: Forest Resource Economics.
Source
Sri Julidar, Halus Satriawan, Ridwan Iriadi. 2026.
“Socio-EEconomic Sustainability Analysis of Alue Simantok Community Forestry, Peudada District, Bireuen Regency.”
International Journal of Sustainable Social Science (IJSSS).
Official URL: https://journal.multitechpublisher.com/index.php/ijsss
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