Five villages from Seluma Utara and Ulo Talo subdistricts, namely Sinar Pagi, Lubuk Resam, Talang Empat, Mekar Jaya, and Girinanto, have officially entered into a social forestry management agreement with Anglo Eastern Plantation (AEP) Group. This collaboration follows over a year of communication and preparation supported by Earthqualizer, KLHK, BPSKL, the Provincial Environmental and Forestry Agency of Bengkulu, and the Seluma Regency KPH. The event was attended by representatives from AEP Group, government officials from national, provincial, and district levels, as well as village heads and Social Forestry Institution leaders.

The event also introduced Sinar Pagi Coffee, a community-driven product from the village of Sinar Pagi. This initiative aims to boost the local economy while actively involving the community in forest preservation, ensuring global environmental benefits. Future plans include scaling up production to penetrate local, provincial, and national markets, with the potential for international exports.

Riki Ricardo, Village Head of Sinar Pagi, expressed his gratitude: “We are deeply thankful to AEP Group for supporting coffee production in Sinar Pagi. Step by step, our community has been able to manage farms and process coffee to add value, thanks to training in cultivation and post-harvest practices. Additionally, we’ve received support for clean water management. We still need further assistance to realize our goal of eradicating poverty in our village.”

From 2022 to 2024, Earthqualizer and AEP Group have provided extensive support to the Sinar Pagi community, including training, water management systems, and infrastructure for coffee processing. Budi Purwanto, CEO of AEP Indonesia, stated: “Since early 2023, we have collaborated with communities through the Restoration Program, a framework to build commitments and mutual understanding between our teams and local villages. Today, AEP Group is extending support to other villages and the Seluma Regency KPH. While there have been challenges, the positive impacts are evident, and we remain committed to supporting four other villages through forest restoration, protection, and community product development, including coffee.”

In addition to the village partnership, AEP has also signed an agreement to support the protection of the Bukit Sanggul Core Protected Forest Zone with Seluma Regency KPH. This forest, located adjacent to the Social Forestry area managed by five villages (covering 5,675 hectares), is critical to the ecosystem. AEP Group has pledged support for monitoring and participatory patrols of the 8,114-hectare Core Zone.

Ivan V. Ageung from Earthqualizer highlighted the significance of this partnership: “This collaboration represents a vital step in advancing social forestry programs by integrating all Social Forestry units within Seluma Regency under a cohesive framework. This aligns with the government’s Integrated Areal Development (IAD) vision, enhancing forest conservation and community welfare while showcasing AEP’s strong commitment to sustainable practices at local, national, and global levels.”

The Social Forestry Program is a flagship government initiative, including in Bengkulu Province, aimed at granting communities access to manage forests sustainably. However, many approved Social Forestry initiatives have yet to reach their full potential. Continued support from stakeholders, including the private sector, is essential to accelerate the program’s goals of forest conservation and community prosperity.

In Bengkulu Province, 87 Social Forestry units encompassing 143 enterprises have been approved. In Seluma Regency, six permits under the Community Forest scheme have been issued, covering Lubuk Resam (673 Ha), Talang Empat (359 Ha), Mekar Jaya (530 Ha), Sinar Pagi (915 Ha), and Sekalak (601 Ha), totaling 3,078 hectares.

Challenges such as funding and access to remote locations have limited post-approval assistance for these groups. Collaborative efforts like this one are vital to ensuring the success and sustainability of the Social Forestry Program.

For further information, please contact:

Manorang Sihite: +62 852 7483 7155

Riza Harizajudin: +62 812 1985 3194