Towards Inclusive Indonesian Forestry: An Overview of a Spatial Planning and Agrarian Perspective

Abstract

Forest area is the largest and most important part of the territory of the Republic of Indonesia but still faces many challenges, including deforestation, forest fires, peat swamp degradation and poverty of local communities due to horizontal and vertical forestry conflicts. This paper focuses on the analysis of forestry development based on spatial planning and agrarian perspective by conveying various facts. A single and centralistic authority over forest areas does not provide an effective basis for sustainable resource governance. There is a dualism of spatial and agrarian planning system namely between forest areas and non-forest areas. It should be integrated by mainstreaming inclusive collaborative management. We recommend promoting forest areas' arrangement under the control of an integrated spatial planning system for the people's greatest possible prosperity, including forestry management principles and objectives. Rationalisation of forest allocation (spatial pattern plan), which the optimum forest allocation must be viewed from the perspective of the overall spatial balance (both forest and non-forest areas, and between protected and cultivated areas) to provide land for food production, social welfare and environmental functions. Forestry implementation needs to consider the principles of economies of scale and prioritise benefits for local communities living bordering forests areas, especially for food cultivation areas. The government should commit to allocating at least 15 million ha inclusively by prioritising landless farmers and smallholder farmers. Increasing community participation in forest area utilisation and functions is pursued through increasing forest access for the community (social forestry and other schemes) without neglecting conservation functions.

A Chronicle of Indonesia’s Forest Management: A Long Step towards Environmental Sustainability and Community Welfare

“…However, its implementation has several obstacles, such as not yet integrating spatial planning with a forest landscape approach, including watersheds, biodiversity, and communities. Another problem is the dualism of forest and agricultural spatial systems, causing uncertainty in land use planning and forestry conflicts both horizontally (between government agencies) and vertically (between forestry authorities and forestry companies or local communities) [49][50][51]. Integration is important as the mainstream of forest planning in Indonesia to assist decision-makers in considering multi-purpose functions and environmental challenges [52].…”

Land Contestation and Identity: Agrarian Conflict Between Maluku Indigenous Communities and State Authorities in A Sociological Perspective

“…Furthermore, there are studies identifying various efforts in resolving agrarian conflicts in Indonesia (Arsyad et al, 2020;Dhiaulhaq & McCarthy, 2020;Fisher & van der Muur, 2020;Maring, 2022;Nurrochmat et al, 2020;Rustiadi & Veriasa, 2022). One of the main efforts is through land policy reform to improve clarity on land ownership status and legal protection for local communities (Nurrochmat et al, 2020).…”

“…This reform includes improving the land registration system, simplifying land registration procedures, and enhancing transparency in land ownership (Arsyad et al, 2020;Maring, 2022). With better clarity on land ownership status, it will reduce uncertainty and conflicts related to land claims (Rustiadi & Veriasa, 2022).…”

“…In addition to policy reform, increasing community participation and consultation in decision-making regarding land use and management are also considered crucial steps in minimizing agrarian conflicts in Indonesia (Dhiaulhaq & McCarthy, 2020). Active participation of communities in decision-making processes will allow them to have a voice in setting policies that affect their daily lives and minimize the risk of conflicts arising from dissatisfaction or injustice in land management (Maring, 2022;Rustiadi & Veriasa, 2022).…”

Enhancing Tenure Security: A Case Study of the Social Forestry Scheme in the State Forestry Corporation, Malang District, East Java

“…The Indonesian government has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing inequalities in land distribution and overall access to forests through the implementation of the agrarian reform (Tanah Objek Reformasi Agraria, TORA) and Social Forestry (SF) programs (Herawati et al 2019;Resosudarmo et al 2019;Rustiadi & Veriasa 2022). Despite the various efforts made in recent years, tenure issues have proven to be persistent.…”