Samarinda, June 2026 - Efforts to preserve forests are not only the responsibility of the government, but also require the active involvement of communities living around forest areas. Through the Himba Bestari Program, village communities and village forest managers are continuously encouraged to improve their capacity to manage and monitor forest areas independently and sustainably.
In order to strengthen this capability, a number of members of the village forest management institution (Lphd), community leaders, and youth representatives participated in forest monitoring training activities facilitated by the Kawal Borneo Foundation. This activity aims to improve participants ' understanding of forest conditions, threats to the area, and field data collection techniques that can be used as a basis for decision-making on village forest management.
Participants were briefed on the identification of potential forest resources, recording findings in the field, the use of simple navigation devices, as well as systematic reporting methods. In addition to classroom materials, participants also conducted hands-on practice in forest areas to identify various conditions that have the potential to affect the sustainability of forest functions.
According to the facilitator of the activity, community-based forest monitoring is one of the important steps to ensure that forest areas are maintained while providing economic and social benefits to the surrounding community. With the data collected regularly, people can know the changes that occur in the area under their management and take preventive measures if there are indications of environmental damage.
In addition to the area protection aspect, this training also serves as a forum for joint learning on the importance of sustainable natural resource management. The community is invited to understand that the success of social forestry is not only measured by legal access to forest areas, but also from the ability to maintain a balance between utilization and environmental conservation.
The Himba Bestari Program itself focuses on strengthening the capacity of rural communities in forest management, local institutional development, and improving community welfare through responsible utilization of Natural Resources. This approach is in line with efforts to promote community-based forest management that is fair, sustainable, and provides long-term benefits for future generations.
Through such activities, it is hoped that more people will have the knowledge and skills to be at the forefront of protecting the village forest. Collaboration between communities, village governments, and various supporting parties is an important key in realizing sustainable forest management in East Kalimantan.
