Medan (ANTARA) - Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni reported that the Social Forestry Program has reached 8.4 million hectares nationwide, involving 1.4 million families.
From January to September 2025, the government issued 11,065 decrees granting local communities legal and sustainable management rights over forest land.Speaking at the Social Forestry Workshop and North Sumatra KTH Business Meeting in Medan on Wednesday, Antoni noted that the program enables communities to use forest products while also contributing to reduced deforestation.
At the provincial level, North Sumatra has accounted for 113,000 hectares of social forestry, supported by 291 decrees involving 25,000 families.
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“There are still around 400,000 more families with potential to be involved,” Antoni said.
He expressed hope that community-managed social forestry will gain access to bank financing, enabling better product quality and stronger competitiveness.
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“It is expected that social forestry can strengthen community economies, create jobs, and help reduce extreme poverty in forest areas,” the minister remarked.
