Enviro News Asia, Ambon – Vice Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki conducted a working visit to Ambon City, Maluku Province, on Thursday, September 24, 2025. The visit underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening forestry development programs, social forestry, and natural resource conservation in eastern Indonesia.
During the visit, the first export shipment of non-timber forest products (NTFPs)—including damar resin and nutmeg spices—from social forestry groups in Maluku Province was released for international markets.
Maluku Governor Hendrik Lawerissa, in his remarks, stated, “This inaugural export activity is one of the outcomes of hard work and collaboration to improve people’s welfare through Maluku’s abundant non-timber forest products such as copal resin and spices.”
The highlight of the event was the release of 30 tons of damar resin destined for India worth IDR 570 million, and 15 tons of nutmeg spices bound for China via Surabaya worth IDR 1.5 billion, from Yos Sudarso Port. These products originated from Rambatu Village Forest, Morella Village Forest, Tawanesiwa Community Forest, Soribang Community Forest, and Hutumuri Customary Forest. In addition to generating economic value, the export activities also created jobs, including for 36 local women working in nutmeg sorting with monthly earnings ranging from IDR 2.5 million to IDR 3 million.
“This inaugural export is clear evidence that Social Forestry can drive the people’s economy, safeguard forest sustainability, and restore Maluku’s glory as the globally renowned Spice Islands,” said the Ministry of Forestry’s Secretary-General, Dr. Ir. Mahfudz MP.
Nationally, social forestry achievements have reached approximately 8.3 million hectares, benefiting more than 1.4 million households. Specifically in Maluku, 171 Social Forestry Approval Decrees have been issued, covering about 240,000 hectares, involving over 33,000 households, and forming 533 Social Forestry Business Groups (KUPS) with a total economic transaction value of IDR 3.85 billion in 2025. (*)
