The Village of Merabu, Indonesia is granted village forest (Hutan Desa)
This arrangement was made binding through a decree that was sanctioned Forestry Ministerial Decree. The Village Forest of Merabu is a new landmark in the history of communities in the district as Merabu was able to get access of management of 8,425 hectares. The decision gives more long-term certainty of forest management and legal certainty to the community to maintain the ecosystems in one village boundary.
The community has a very high dependency on forest resources, Karst (limestone caves) and river
ecosystems. Through the granting of Hutan Desa, Merabu became one of the primary village models and a centre of economic empowerment for other village in Indonesia. The scheme also provides the community the right to manage the forests under strict sustainable forest management mostly for nontimber forest products (NTFP).
The Nature Conservancy was actively involved in engaging and following up with Ministry of Forestry high ranking officials in Jakarta, including Director General of Watershed Management & Social Forestry, to ensure timely issuance of the Hutan Desa decree from the Minister. With the support of the district government of Berau, The Nature Conservancy, and other stakeholders, this collaborative effort was crucial in securing the communities’ land rights, ensuring long-term security and improving the livelihoods and well-being of the villagers on Merabu.