 |
| Illustration by ai |
A comprehensive evaluation of the Community Forest (Hutan Kemasyarakatan/HKm) program in Sesaot Village, West Lombok Regency, has found that the forest management system performs well overall, despite significant weaknesses in administrative governance and economic development. The study was conducted by Irman Soviyan, Markum, and Febriana Tri Wulandari from Universitas Mataram and published in 2026 in the Jurnal Multidisiplin Madani (MUDIMA). The findings provide new evidence that community-based forest management can successfully protect forests while improving local livelihoods, but long-term sustainability will depend on stronger institutional management and expanded economic opportunities.
Community forestry has become one of Indonesia's most
important strategies for balancing environmental conservation with rural
economic development. By granting local communities legal rights to manage
forest areas, the government seeks to reduce poverty, prevent illegal logging,
resolve land-use conflicts, and encourage sustainable forest management. As
more social forestry programs are implemented across Indonesia, evaluating
their effectiveness has become increasingly important for policymakers, environmental
agencies, and local communities.
The Sesaot Community Forest represents one of Indonesia's
longest-running social forestry initiatives. Managed by the Mitra Sesaot
Community Forest Conservation Group (KMPH) under a Social Forestry permit,
the program covers part of the protected Sesaot Forest in West Lombok. The
forest also serves as a critical watershed that supplies more than 40 natural
springs, making its conservation essential not only for biodiversity but also
for regional water security.
Unlike previous studies that mainly examined participation
or implementation, the Universitas Mataram researchers conducted a
comprehensive performance assessment using the official evaluation indicators
established by Indonesia's Ministerial Regulation of Environment and
Forestry No. 9 of 2021. Their assessment measured four key dimensions of
community forest management: administration, ecology, social performance, and
economic development.
The research was carried out between March and April 2026.
The team combined field observations, structured interviews, questionnaires,
document reviews, and direct ecological observations. A total of 46
respondents participated in the study, including forest managers, community
members, and officials from the Forest Management Unit (KPH) Region I of West
Nusa Tenggara. Quantitative scoring was complemented by qualitative analysis to
identify both the strengths and limitations of the community forestry program.
The evaluation produced an overall score of 161 out of a
possible 270 points, placing Sesaot Community Forest in the High
Performance category according to the national evaluation standard.
Several major findings emerged from the assessment:
- Overall
management performance was classified as High, demonstrating that the
community forestry program functions effectively despite several
institutional challenges.
- Ecological
performance achieved a moderate score of 67.68%, reflecting successful
protection of forest cover, effective agroforestry practices, and low
levels of illegal logging.
- Social
performance reached 64.29%, showing increased community income,
stronger environmental awareness, effective conflict resolution, and
active community participation.
- Administrative
performance scored only 33.33%, primarily because important management
planning documents and activity reports were unavailable or had been lost.
- Economic
performance reached just 54.90%, indicating that business development,
institutional capacity, and environmental service utilization remain
underdeveloped.
Among the strongest achievements identified by the
researchers was the successful implementation of agroforestry, where
local farmers cultivate crops while maintaining tree cover. This approach has
helped preserve forest functions while generating income through non-timber
forest products such as durian, coffee, and multipurpose tree species.
The forest also continues to provide important ecosystem services, including
watershed protection and carbon storage.
The researchers also found that local participation plays a
major role in maintaining forest sustainability. Community members actively
participate in forest protection, routine patrols, and sustainable land
management practices. Traditional local values, including mutual cooperation
and family-based management, continue to support successful forest governance.
However, the evaluation also revealed several significant
weaknesses that could threaten long-term sustainability if left unaddressed.
Administrative governance remains the weakest component of
the program. Missing work plans, incomplete documentation, and inadequate
institutional archives reduce accountability and make long-term planning more
difficult. Without proper administrative systems, evaluating progress and
securing future support becomes increasingly challenging.
Economic development also lags behind ecological success.
Although local farmers successfully produce agricultural commodities, the
community has not fully developed business institutions capable of expanding
market opportunities or increasing added value. Environmental service
opportunities—including ecotourism, watershed services, and carbon
trading—remain largely untapped despite the forest's significant ecological
potential.
The study further highlights gender inequality within
community forestry management. Although women participate in forest activities,
their representation in leadership and decision-making remains relatively
limited. Expanding women's involvement could strengthen institutional capacity
and improve social outcomes.
The ecological assessment identified another important
opportunity for improvement. While forest cover remains well protected,
biodiversity monitoring and conservation of endemic species have not yet been
systematically implemented. Similarly, hydrological monitoring of springs and
water quality remains limited, despite the forest's critical role in supplying
regional water resources.
According to the researchers, the study demonstrates that
successful community forestry extends beyond protecting forests alone.
As the authors from Universitas Mataram explain, the
Sesaot Community Forest has successfully maintained forest cover, implemented
agroforestry, reduced illegal logging, and encouraged positive behavioral
change among community members. However, they emphasize that stronger
administrative systems, improved business institutions, and greater utilization
of environmental services are essential to achieving long-term sustainability
and maximizing benefits for local communities.
The findings carry important implications for Indonesia's
expanding social forestry program.
For policymakers, the research highlights the importance of
combining environmental conservation with institutional strengthening.
Government agencies can support community forestry groups by improving
administrative training, facilitating access to business partnerships, and
developing environmental service markets such as carbon credit programs.
For rural communities, the study demonstrates that
sustainable forest management can generate both environmental and economic
benefits when supported by active participation and effective governance.
For researchers and conservation organizations, the
evaluation provides a practical framework for measuring community forestry
performance using nationally standardized indicators that can be replicated in
other regions across Indonesia.
The authors also recommend greater investment in
biodiversity monitoring, environmental service development, women's
participation, and institutional capacity building. These improvements would
allow successful community forestry programs like Sesaot to become even more
resilient while contributing to Indonesia's broader climate, conservation, and
rural development goals.
Author Profile
Irman Soviyan is a researcher from Universitas
Mataram specializing in community forestry and sustainable forest
management.
Markum is a researcher and academic at Universitas
Mataram whose expertise focuses on forest management, agroforestry,
watershed conservation, and social forestry. He served as the corresponding
author of this study.
Febriana Tri Wulandari is a researcher from Universitas Mataram whose academic interests include forestry management, environmental sustainability, and community-based natural resource management.
Source
Article Title: Evaluation of Community Forest
Performance in Sesaot Village, West Lombok Regency
Journal: Jurnal Multidisiplin
Madani (MUDIMA)
Publication Year: 2026
Volume & Pages: Vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 719–730
0 Komentar