InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - The Social Forestry Program continues to be an important pillar in realizing community-based sustainable forest management. In West Kalimantan, this spirit is increasingly evident through collaboration between the Village Forest Management Agency (LPHD) Sembelangaan and Bumitama Gunajaya Agro (BGA Group), which successfully transformed fire-prone areas into productive and green land again.
For years, part of the land in Simpang Tiga Sembelangaan was known as a recurring forest fire area. However, since 2021, changes have begun to appear. Through partnership with BGA, communities grouped in the Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) Sumber Tani have gradually carried out land rehabilitation. Now, the area is free from fires and is starting to provide economic benefits for residents.
BGA provides various forms of support, ranging from plant seeds, compost fertilizer from empty palm bunches (jangkos), planting and maintenance costs, to technical assistance and infrastructure development such as irrigation systems and bridge repairs. The program is also equipped with regular monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the sustainability of the results.
This initiative is part of the "Bumitama Berdaya" program, which emphasizes community empowerment as the driving force for environmental conservation. Through a collaborative approach, BGA strives to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility among communities towards the land they manage.
According to Andi Amin, Head of Sustainability Governance Department BGA, improving soil quality is the top priority in land recovery.
“We conduct weed control without chemicals and use organic and inorganic fertilizers gradually to improve soil quality. After several years, soil pH has increased from 3–5 to around 6–7, approaching ideal conditions for plant growth,” he explained in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT, Tuesday (October 21, 2025).
Now, on 10 hectares of land, KUPS Sumber Tani plants various commodities such as oranges, cocoa, bananas, cashews, mangoes, longans, avocados, and petai. Part of the land is also used for intercropping horticulture such as cucumbers, chilies, and watermelons. From 400 orange trees planted, some have already started to be harvested and sold independently.
Meanwhile, KUPS Sumber Joyo, which is also under LPHD Sembelangaan, has planted 7 hectares of cocoa with BGA support since 2021. This effort is part of the carbon emission reduction strategy through agroforestry systems, combining cocoa with shade trees. KUPS Sumber Joyo is now partnering with Kalara Borneo in developing the cocoa supply chain, and is expected to start supplying raw materials by mid-2026.
In addition to cocoa, communities are also developing fruits such as mangoes, longans, and jengkol, as well as using land to grow horticultural vegetables. This agroforestry approach not only increases income but also becomes an effective solution to prevent deforestation.
BGA also supports sustainable land management by providing seeds, land preparation assistance, fertilization, to road access repairs. All these steps ensure that community activities remain productive without sacrificing the forest ecosystem.
The story of collaboration between LPHD and BGA proves that synergy between communities and the private sector can create real change. Land that was once degraded now grows back into a new living space—where communities can live prosperously while maintaining the sustainability of nature.
From land that once lost its power, now grows green hope. This initiative proves that protecting forests means growing a more sustainable future for West Kalimantan and Indonesia. (T2)
