Indonesia’s Social Forestry: A Key to Economic Justice, Ministry Says

The Ministry of Forestry has declared social forestry a strategic pillar for achieving economic justice in Indonesia. Social forestry is a program that gives local communities legal rights to manage forest areas, allowing them to benefit from the land while preserving it. The ministry stated that this approach helps reduce poverty and inequality by providing jobs and income to rural populations. By empowering villagers and indigenous groups, the program aims to balance economic development with environmental protection. Officials emphasized that social forestry is not just about conservation—it is a tool for fairer distribution of resources and opportunities across the country.