Enviro News Asia, Yogyakarta — The Ministry of Forestry, through the Agency for Extension and Human Resources Development (BP2SDM), organized a workshop to formulate a Grand Design for Eco-Edu-Tourism for three Forest Areas with Special Purpose (Kawasan Hutan Dengan Tujuan Khusus/KHDTK). The workshop took place in Yogyakarta on Wednesday as part of efforts to support Indonesia’s Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 target.
The three KHDTKs selected for development are KHDTK Pondok Buluh in Simalungun, North Sumatra; KHDTK Sawala Mandapa in Majalengka, West Java; and KHDTK Tabo-Tabo in Pangkajene and Islands (Pangkep) Regency, South Sulawesi. BP2SDM aims to transform these areas into integrated and sustainable learning-based eco-edu-tourism destinations.
Senior officials of BP2SDM attended the workshop alongside the Head of the Environment and Forestry Agency of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, heads of regional Forestry Human Resources Development Centers (Regions I, IV, and VI), the Director of the Indonesian Ecotourism Network (INDECON), forestry extension officers, and representatives of forest farmer groups (KTH).
In remarks delivered by BP2SDM Secretary U. Mamat Rahmat on behalf of the Head of BP2SDM, the agency emphasized that eco-edu-tourism development aligns with the second Asta Cita of the Merah Putih Cabinet, which focuses on strengthening national self-reliance through food, energy, water security, and a green economy. The program also supports the Ministry of Forestry’s vision of delivering ecological, economic, and social benefits at the site level.
Mamat stated that KHDTKs represent strategic national assets for education, training, research, and community service. Through eco-edu-tourism, BP2SDM seeks to position KHDTKs as living natural laboratories while contributing to the achievement of the FOLU Net Sink 2030 target.
BP2SDM currently manages 45 forestry training KHDTK units covering a total area of 107,086 hectares, with nine units directly managed by BP2SDM Technical Implementation Units. The ministry stressed that KHDTKs play a critical role as carbon providers and must be protected and enhanced in line with Ministerial Regulation No. 7 of 2021.
The eco-edu-tourism program targets not only capacity building for KHDTK managers but also empowerment of forest farmer groups and surrounding communities. Environmentally responsible educational tourism is expected to increase local incomes while reinforcing forest protection and conservation functions.
The grand design formulation involves professional ecotourism consultants and applies a participatory approach with relevant stakeholders. The workshop follows a 10-day apprenticeship program attended by forest farmer groups and forestry extension officers at Nglanggeran Tourism Village in Yogyakarta, where participants studied successful ecotourism management practices.
Head of the Forestry Extension Center Wahju Rudianto expressed hope that the workshop would enable regional BP2SDM centers to reach consensus on the proposed eco-edu-tourism grand design. He said that participatory planning supported by well-trained forest farmer groups would drive sustainable eco-edu-tourism development in each region.
Wahju added that the program will run for two years from 2025 to 2026 and includes eight main components, ranging from management guideline preparation and infrastructure development to apprenticeships and official launching. BP2SDM aims to increase income opportunities for forest farmer groups through nature-based tourism services and promote KHDTK self-reliance through sustainable financing schemes.
The program is expected to position KHDTKs as productive assets capable of generating revenue from non-timber forest products, environmental services, and carbon trading, while strengthening their role as centers of excellence for agroforestry technology development supporting sustainable food, energy, and water security. (*)
