Enviro News Asia, Bogor — Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry is strengthening the capacity of communities managing social forestry areas to develop value-added businesses while maintaining forest sustainability.
The initiative is being carried out through a Social Forestry Business Plan Workshop held in Bogor, West Java, from September 24 to 26, 2026. The workshop, organized by the Directorate of Social Forestry Business Development, brings together representatives of Social Forestry Offices and community facilitators from various regions.
The participants are being trained to develop business plans based on local resources, market opportunities and the specific characteristics of their respective areas.
Director of Social Forestry Business Development Apri Dwi Sumarah said access to forest management rights needs to be accompanied by the capacity to develop sustainable businesses so communities can obtain long-term economic benefits from forest resources.
“Management access provides an opportunity, but sustainable businesses require planning. When communities can identify potential, understand markets, create added value and build partnerships, social forestry becomes not only an opportunity to manage forests but also a pathway to strengthen the local economy,” Apri said in Bogor on September 24.
According to Apri, a business plan provides community groups with a clear direction for developing their enterprises. It can also serve as a basis for business decisions, partnerships, financing access and support from various government programs.
The workshop is attended by 60 participants who brought data on leading Social Forestry Business Groups, known as KUPS, from their respective regions, along with initial business plan concepts.
During the workshop, participants learn to identify market needs and characteristics, calculate costs and profit projections, determine product advantages, develop marketing strategies and identify and manage business risks.
The ministry is emphasizing practical implementation rather than simply producing business plan documents.
“The important thing is how the plan can be implemented in the field and help groups determine what to develop, who the market is, how much capital is needed, who the partners are and what the next steps should be,” Apri said.
Participants are also using the Business Model Canvas to map their business models in a simpler and more measurable way. Each participant then develops and presents a business plan based on the potential of the KUPS brought from their respective regions.
The resulting business plans are expected to help community groups develop their enterprises while providing Social Forestry Offices and facilitators with a clearer basis for delivering support according to each group’s needs.
Social forestry businesses can be developed according to local conditions and resources. Potential commodities include coffee, palm sugar, nipa, nutmeg and other non-timber forest products, as well as ecotourism.
The ministry said business development must continue to take into account the sustainability of forest resources.
Through stronger business capacity and continued assistance, communities are expected to increase the economic value of resources within their managed areas while maintaining forest conservation. (*)
