KIC Survey: Results Show Most Social Forestry Business Groups Focus on Non-Timber Products

A Katadata Insight Center (KIC) survey shows that the majority of products generated by social forestry business groups are non-timber forest products. This accounts for 80%.

Non-timber forest products are generally by-products of a tree. For example, sap, leaves, bark, fruit, or plants with special properties such as rattan, bamboo, and so on.

Timber forest products rank second as the most common product of social forestry business groups, at 17.6%. Respondents also reported producing seedlings (12.4%).

11.4% of respondents stated that they generate environmental services from social forestry business groups. Environmental services consist of tourism and ecotourism.

Furthermore, 7.1% produce handicrafts from social forestry business groups. Other business group products include fisheries (5.7%), mangroves (3.8%), vegetables (3.3%), aquaculture/livestock (1.9%), fruit and coffee (1% each), and others (2.4%).

For information, the social forestry program is a sustainable forest management system located in state forest areas or customary/adat forests, implemented by local communities/customary law.

This KIC survey was conducted on 103 social forestry business groups in Indonesia with a total of 210 respondents, consisting of 103 group heads/managers and the rest members. The survey, conducted from September 15-24, 2020, used an interview method for group heads and telephone interviews for group members.