The Biang Sari Customary Forest (HA) in Pengasi Baru Village was designated through Kerinci Regent Decree Number 660/Kep 340/2018 concerning the Designation of Biang Sari Customary Forest Rights in Pengasi Baru Village, Bukit Kerman Subdistrict, Kerinci Regency, Jambi Province. This decree was further strengthened by the Decree of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia No: SK.3024/MENLHKPSKL/PKTHA/PSL.1/2019 regarding the granting of a social forestry permit valid for 35 years. The area of the Biang Sari Customary Forest covers 183 hectares, divided into a Protection Zone and a Utilization Zone. It is managed by the Biang Sari Customary Forest Management Institution (LPHA).
The initial process of customary forest initiation was proposed by the community in 2014, supported by Walestra and the FFI Merangin project, which assisted in submitting the decree for the designation of the Biang Sari Customary Forest area. After going through a fairly long process, the Biang Sari Customary Forest in Pengasi Baru Village, Bukit Kerman Subdistrict, Kerinci Regency, officially received the Regent’s Decree on May 25, 2018, under Decree No: 660/Kep. 340/2018.
The aim of this compensation program is to develop social forestry as an effective and sustainable scheme for conservation and livelihood improvement. Two specific objectives are required to achieve this goal:
- Protection of high conservation value and high carbon stock areas through sustainable community-based forest management in Biang Sari Customary Forest.
- Improvement of community livelihoods through agroforestry and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Biang Sari Customary Forest in Pengasi Baru Village.
The outputs of this program are:
- Supporting the strengthening of governance and management of the customary forest
- Supporting conservation in customary forests that are maintained and monitored against threats of deforestation and degradation
- Protecting the habitat of key protected species, conserved through local wisdom
- Supporting the enhancement and optimization of forest and agricultural product values, aimed at improving livelihoods and sustainable income options
- Supporting the optimization and coordination of relevant stakeholders
