The people living in Mendawai, a subdistrict of seven villages at the southeastern edge of the Katingan Mentaya Project, are working to protect their surrounding peat swamp forest and support sustainable local jobs through the Mendawai Social Forestry Program.
Under the scheme, which grants legal rights and provides tools and resources, the community is improving its livelihood opportunities, while maintaining the health of the surrounding ecosystem.
What social forestry means in practice
Social forestry is a national programme in Indonesia designed to give communities legal access and responsibility to manage parts of state forest. Instead of separating conservation from local livelihoods, it recognises that the people who depend on forests are often best placed to protect them.
In Mendawai, this takes shape through a community institution known as LPHD Mendawai (Village Forest Management Institution). Through a formal permit issued by the government, the village is granted the right to manage a defined forest area for a set period of time, under clear ecological and governance requirements. The forest cannot be cleared or converted, but it can be used sustainably for activities that maintain ecosystem health while supporting local livelihoods.
The programme begins with participatory planning. Community members map important areas such as peat domes, waterways, farming zones, and wildlife habitat, then develop a village forest management plan together. This plan sets rules for land use, fire prevention, restoration activities, and sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products such as rattan, honey, other natural resources.
Implementation happens through practical, community-led actions. Local patrol teams monitor forest conditions and report risks such as illegal logging or early signs of fire. Farmers receive training in peat-friendly agriculture that avoids drainage and burning. Community members also learn financial management, organisational governance, and transparent decision-making so the institution can manage funds responsibly and plan long-term activities.
Project support, community decision making
Support from the Katingan Mentaya Project helps provide technical guidance, training, and resources, but decisions remain rooted in the village. The goal is not short-term assistance, but a system where communities have the skills, authority, and confidence to manage their forest independently over time.
By combining legal recognition, local knowledge, and ongoing capacity building, social forestry creates a practical framework where conservation and community wellbeing move forward together.
Protecting peatlands, protecting lives
Healthy peatlands store massive amounts of carbon and help regulate water systems. When damaged, they become a source of fire, smoke, and emissions.
For Mendawai, peatland protection is not only about climate change. It is about safety, health, and stability.
Combining the Social Forestry Program and the Katingan Mentaya Project, community members are trained in:
- Fire prevention and firefighting
- Sustainable land use and peat-friendly farming
- Forest patrols and monitoring
- Basic organisational and financial management
These are practical skills that make a real difference, especially during the dry season, when fires can threaten homes, crops, and livelihoods.
Livelihoods that work with nature
For conservation to last, it must also support daily life. People need ways to earn a living that do not depend on clearing land or draining peat.
In Mendawai, social forestry has opened new opportunities. Communities are developing sustainable livelihoods through agroforestry, non-timber forest products, and involvement in fire management and forest protection teams. These activities can seem small on their own, but together they build a more secure and resilient local economy.
The wider Katingan Mentaya Project also generates income through verified carbon credits, which fund community programmes, training, and long-term forest protection. This means that climate action at the global level is directly supporting people on the ground.
A different kind of success story
The Mendawai Social Forestry Program shows that conservation does not have to come at the expense of people’s lives and livelihoods. In fact, it works best when the two grow together.
Stronger village institutions, safer environments, new income opportunities, and a deeper sense of ownership over natural resources. These are the real signs of success. They may not always make headlines, but they shape everyday life in lasting ways.
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