Strengthening Village Forest Management and Public Outreach, CFES and LPHD Conduct Monitoring and Training in Sepakat Jaya Village

Sepakat Jaya, April 24, 2026 – CFES, together with LPHD, KUPS, and the Sepakat Jaya Village government, carried out two strategic activities simultaneously in Sepakat Jaya Village, Nanga Tayap Subdistrict, Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan, on Thursday (April 24). The activities included monitoring the implementation of the Lemmanis Village Forest program and conducting training on public information dissemination through social media, attended by LPHD and KUPS members as well as local stakeholders.

The Lemmanis Village Forest, officially established in 2021 and covering an area of 6,967 hectares, serves as an important source of livelihood for the local community. Strengthening governance and improving community communication capacity have become urgent priorities to ensure that the benefits of the village forest are distributed equitably and sustainably among all stakeholders.

The monitoring activity took place at the Sepakat Jaya Village Office. During an active discussion forum, community members, along with LPHD and KUPS, identified program achievements as well as ongoing challenges in the field. A key issue raised was the incomplete demarcation of village forest boundaries in several areas, which has contributed to unauthorized land clearing. CFES Program Manager, Sri Wahyuni, emphasized that a shared commitment to preserving forest sustainability is essential for the continuation of program support, including funding. She warned that if deforestation continues, financial support for LPHD and KUPS activities could decrease or even cease.

As a follow-up, the forum agreed on several concrete steps, including strengthening forest patrols, restructuring KUPS institutions, and intensifying community outreach on the functions and benefits of the village forest.

Meanwhile, the public information dissemination training was held at the Sepakat Jaya Joint Secretariat. Facilitator Nadya Riska trained LPHD and KUPS members in basic social media management skills, including techniques for taking photos and videos using mobile phones, writing captions using the SAPA method (Situation, Actor, Feeling, Appeal), and understanding social media ethics. The training also aimed to expand promotional channels for group products, which have so far relied mainly on WhatsApp and Facebook.

Participants directly practiced creating content and setting up Instagram accounts as tools for promoting flagship products, communicating program activities, and educating the public about the existence and benefits of the Lemmanis Village Forest.

Through these activities, CFES and its partners hope that the community of Sepakat Jaya Village will become increasingly capable of managing the forest independently, transparently, and sustainably, while also enhancing group income by leveraging digital platforms to market village forest products.