Reviewing the Implementation of the Manjau Village Forest Program in Satong
October 2025
Laman Satong Village, October 10, 2025 – PT Dharma Satya Nusantara (DSNG), together with Community Forest Ecosystem Services (CFES), conducted a field visit to Laman Satong Village, Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan. This visit was part of a client engagement activity as well as a joint commitment to support the ongoing sustainability of the Manjau Village Forest (Hutan Desa/HD) management program, which has been supported by the DSN Group over the past five years.
This activity was also linked to the Sustainability Forum organized by DSNG, in which CFES participated as a program implementation partner. In addition to attending the forum, the field visit was carried out to directly observe the progress of activities at the program’s implementation site.
During the visit, the DSNG and CFES teams held discussions with the Manjau Village Forest Management Institution (LPHD Manjau) regarding achievements, challenges, and future opportunities for program development. The discussion was also attended by representatives from the Laman Satong Village Government, Women’s Group, and Youth Group. One of the main focuses was to observe how LPHD Manjau manages the village forest sustainably while promoting community welfare through productive activities such as plant nurseries and strengthening business group institutions.
“I see that today, the management of the Village Forest actively involves the younger generation, who are showing strong participation and concern for forest conservation. This is a positive signal for the sustainability of the RaCP program in the future. We hope the people of Laman Satong continue to thrive,” said Teguh Triono, Head of Management System & Sustainability Engagement Division at DSNG.
From the field visit, DSNG gained a clear picture of the on-the-ground conditions and the progress of the program’s implementation. One notable highlight was the active participation of youth in managing the Manjau Village Forest, which has become a key success factor for the program.
The village youth group has been actively involved in various activities — from conducting forest patrols to prevent illegal activities, running plant nurseries, and planting trees, to participating in technical training related to conservation and the development of non-timber forest product (NTFP)-based enterprises.
This involvement not only strengthens the capacity of the younger generation to protect the environment, but also opens up new economic opportunities through the development of eco-friendly businesses. The enthusiasm and initiative shown by the youth reflect a long-term commitment to forest conservation and bring hope for the future sustainability of the Manjau Village Forest program.
Beyond being a platform for shared learning, this visit also served as an initial evaluation to design more strategic and sustainable collaboration plans for the future. The activity emphasized the importance of synergy between the private sector, facilitating partners, and local communities in realizing community-based forest management that is fair, inclusive, and has long-term impact.