Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number 9 of 2021 concerning Social Forestry Management

This Ministerial Regulation, implementing provisions of article 247 of the Government Regulation Number 23 of 2021 concerning Forestry Implementation, concerns the following topics: social forestry management approval; social forestry activities; social forestry in peat ecosystem; monitoring, supervision; administrative sanctions relating to social forestry management. The Regulation defines the following relevant terms: social forestry, as a forest management system based on the implementation of sustainable development in national forest areas by local communities; village forest; community forest; plantation forest; protected forest, to regulate water management, prevent flooding, preventing sea water intrusion, maintaining soil fertility and controlling erosion; customary forest rights; conservation forest; production forest; forest utilisation services; forestry partnership approval; customary law; local knowledge; environmental partnership; peat ecosystem conservation; social forestry management plan. Matters covered by this Regulation include: village forest management agreement; utilisation of timber and non-timber forest products; procedures for requesting management approval; mapping of forest area; mapping of land subject to agrarian reform.
Further matters covered by this Regulation include: subjects involved in community forest management: farmers, cooperatives, forestry professionals; issuance of authorisation for forest management services; subjects involved in community plantation forest management; environmental services; implementation of forestry partnership agreements; determination of customary forest status in public and non-State forest areas; determination of indicative areas of customary forests; land use agreements in customary forests; definition of land and forest rights; rights, obligations and prohibitions including: protection from disturbances, destruction and environmental pollution, integrated farming system, benefitting from the genetic resources available in the various forest areas, developing a productive economy for forestry, receiving assistance in preparing management plans, applying sustainability principles in forest management, using mechanical equipment for cutting down trees and logging operations, planting oil palms. Concerning social forestry management operations, the Regulation provides for: business development, strengthening governance and environmental partnership, including utilisation of water for the needs of the local community, forest rehabilitation measures, development of nature tourism, protection of biodiversity, cultivation of food crops for ensuring food security.
Final provisions concern: prohibited activities, including: opening unauthorised land clearing, and creating drainage channels; monitoring; offences.