Taking Concrete Steps Toward Forest Governance at the Local Level

Communities in the Menoreh Hills, particularly in Pagerharjo and Sidoharjo Villages, are entering a new chapter in sustainable community forest governance. Through a symbolic tree-planting activity and the official handover of the Village Regulation (Peraturan Kalurahan or Perkal) on Wanabraya Community Forest Management to Gusti Kanjeng Ratu (GKR) Mangkubumi and the Kulon Progo Regional Government, their commitment to environmental conservation at the local level is becoming increasingly firmly established.

This field activity marked one of the strategic milestones in the series of assistance activities under Results-Based Payment (RBP) REDD+ Activity 4.4.2, namely the Development of Sustainable Community Forest Management Unit (UMHRL) Governance. The program is facilitated by the Environmental and Forestry Agency of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DLHK DIY), in collaboration with Relung Indonesia as the community assistance organization.

The handover of the Wanabraya Village Regulation document marks the establishment of formal legal recognition that bridges customary practices and local government regulations, with the aim of ensuring residents’ rights and providing legal certainty while safeguarding forest sustainability.

Photo Documentation: Symbolic handover of the Wanabraya Village Regulation document to GKR Mangkubumi and the Kulon Progo Regional Government as a legal foundation for strengthening community forest management in Samigaluh.

Ecological Messages and Commodity-Based Solutions from GKR Mangkubumi

In her remarks and guidance, GKR Mangkubumi emphasized a fundamental principle of environmental governance: forests and water are two inseparable pillars of life. Well-preserved forests are essential for maintaining the availability of natural springs for local communities, while abundant water resources sustain livelihoods and economic activities throughout the Menoreh Hills.

GKR Mangkubumi encouraged the strategic development of Samigaluh’s distinctive commodities, including Menoreh coffee, tea, vanilla, sugar palm, jackfruit, and avocado, in ways that remain aligned with the area’s water infiltration functions.

She also expressed appreciation for the idea of tourism-based environmental monitoring, through which visitors are invited to participate in tree planting and attach their names to the trees they plant. This approach is considered capable of fostering an emotional sense of involvement among visitors while supporting consistent land rehabilitation efforts.

Photo Documentation: GKR Mangkubumi symbolically plants a tree seedling in the Samigaluh area as a demonstration of shared commitment to protecting water catchment areas and maintaining vegetation cover across the Menoreh landscape.

Regional Government Support, Relung’s Facilitation Role, and Legal Certainty

The Head of the Environmental and Forestry Agency of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Mr. Kusno Wibowo, highlighted that the 78,400 hectares of community forests in DIY play a crucial role in maintaining the province’s ecosystem functions, considering that state forests in the region cover only approximately 16,352 hectares.

For this reason, the RBP REDD+ scheme, supported by Relung Indonesia, focuses on strengthening the capacity of Forest Farmer Groups (Kelompok Tani Hutan or KTH) and Community Forest Management Units (Unit Manajemen Hutan Rakyat or UMHR).

To support the sustainability of reforestation efforts, Relung Indonesia and the regional government are facilitating the establishment of independent nurseries at the village level. These nurseries supply high-quality seedlings, including sengon, Menoreh coffee, balsa, and kemukus, for local residents to plant.

The Regent of Kulon Progo also reminded participants that the success of conservation initiatives should not be measured by the number of seedlings distributed, but by the consistency of their maintenance in the field, ensuring that the trees survive, grow, and deliver tangible benefits.

Community Dialogue: Sultan Ground Conservation, Nurseries, and Accessibility

The community dialogue session took place in a warm and open atmosphere. The Head of Pagerharjo Village, Mr. Widayat, shared an initiative by local residents and the Youth Organization (Karang Taruna) to map and plan conservation efforts at eight natural spring locations situated on approximately 80 hectares of Sultan Ground (SG) land.

Residents hope that these areas, which have not yet been optimally utilized, can receive support for planting water-conservation vegetation alongside productive fruit crops such as durian and coffee.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Mekar Tani Forest Farmer Group, Mr. Teguh, put forward several community aspirations: the allocation of conservation seedlings for the upcoming planting season, the use of Sultan Ground land in Nglinggo Barat and Gunung Jaran for developing educational tourism villages, and improvements to a 2.4-kilometer plantation access road.

In response, GKR Mangkubumi and representatives of the regional government advised that procedures for utilizing Sultanate land should follow the provisions of Yogyakarta Governor Regulation No. 49/2018, through the required verification stages involving the village government and relevant government agencies.

Photo Documentation: An interactive and participatory dialogue session in which community members conveyed their hopes and aspirations to GKR Mangkubumi.

Strategic Milestones Toward a Sustainable Menoreh Landscape

Contributor:

Rizka Maulidasari