Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry is mobilizing 1,250 Scout Contingent Leaders from across the country to strengthen youth participation in forest conservation and sustainable food security through the 12th National Jamboree (Jamnas XII) 2026.
The initiative was carried out through a Saka Wanabakti socialization and talk show titled “The Role of Forests in Food Security” at Buperta Cibubur, East Jakarta, on Saturday (August 15). The forum encouraged Scout leaders to bring knowledge about forest conservation back to their respective regions and turn it into concrete actions among young people and local Scout communities.
The participation of 1,250 Contingent Leaders from various regions was considered a strategic opportunity because they play an important role in developing young people and Scout members in their respective areas. Through the forum, knowledge about forests and conservation is expected to reach communities beyond the Jamnas participants.
Secretary of the National Saka Wanabakti Leadership Council and Head of the Ministry of Forestry’s Center for the Development of Forest Conservation Generations, Luckmi Purwandari, said the Jamnas XII provided an important platform to strengthen young people’s understanding of the role of forests in conservation and national food self-sufficiency.
“Through this socialization and talk show with contingent leaders from across Indonesia, we want to build collective awareness that maintaining healthy forests with the involvement of young people and Scouts is an essential prerequisite for achieving sustainable food security,” Luckmi said.
She encouraged the Contingent Leaders to follow up the initiative by building networks, partnerships and collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry’s Technical Implementation Units across Indonesia. Such cooperation is expected to generate conservation programs, strengthen Scout bases and establish forestry learning spaces for young people and Scout communities.
According to Luckmi, food security is not solely about food availability but also depends on the sustainability of natural resources that support food production and community livelihoods. Forests play interconnected ecological and social roles, including maintaining water systems, protecting soil and biodiversity, and providing food and forest products that can be utilized sustainably.
Through Saka Wanabakti, young people are expected to gain knowledge, skills, leadership capabilities and opportunities to develop innovations and take concrete action in forest conservation. The involvement of Contingent Leaders is also expected to strengthen Scout development networks and promote forestry and environmental activities at the local level.
With a network of 1,250 Contingent Leaders from different regions, the Ministry of Forestry expects Saka Wanabakti to expand its role as a platform for developing a new generation of forest conservation advocates across Indonesia.
The initiative is part of the 12th National Jamboree, organized by the National Scout Movement from August 13–20, 2026, under the theme “Creating, Innovating, Skilled and Independent to Support Food Self-Sufficiency.” The event brings together 24,785 Scout members from Scout Branch Councils across Indonesia, the National Scout Council, representatives of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), overseas Scout groups and National Scout Organizations from the Asia-Pacific region.
The Ministry of Forestry, the National Saka Wanabakti Leadership Council, the National Scout Movement and Scout leaders at the regional and branch levels are expected to continue strengthening cooperation so that Saka Wanabakti can serve as a wider platform for youth development and forest conservation.
From Jamnas XII, the Ministry hopes the message of forest conservation and food security will move from knowledge to awareness, from awareness to action, and ultimately from youth action to meaningful contributions to Indonesia’s forests and sustainable food security. (*)
