Photo: Acting on behalf of Korintiga Hutani, Redi Sugihartono presents Haloban Forest Farming Group in Runtu Village (South Arut Subdistrict) with their share of revenue from the forestry partnership
BASE CAMP PELLITA – Korintiga Hutani (KTH) presented Haloban Forest Farming Group in Runtu Village, South Arut Subdistrict (West Kotawaringin) with their share of revenue from a forestry partnership with the company. 134,404,832 IDR were distributed at the Camp Pellita Sports Hall in Nanga Mua Thursday (7/11) through a symbolic ceremony.
It’s a company’s social responsibility to give farmers under a revenue sharing agreement their due income, South Arut subdistrict head Indra Wardana stated in his speech. He expected this money to be used well in improving village infrastructure.
“Partnership is a mutually-beneficial symbiotic relationship with a goal based on shared principles. I hope the village [beneficiary] will be accountable for how it uses these funds and act in the interests of the farming group and the villagers. We should bear in mind that there will be no supervision from the [regional] inspector, only the village government. Again, I expect this money to be fully spent on this endeavor. I don’t want to see conflicts, I want to see good communication between the fund management agency and village leader so everything can run properly,” Wardana said.
Acting on behalf of Korintiga Hutani’s management, Redi Sugihartono shared how Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation 9/2021, a regulation on social forestry, was put to use in this handover ceremony.
The event also showcases KTH’s compliance with its agreement with Haloban that both sides have made and signed.
The company has developed a 10-year forest utilization work plan (RKUPH) for its forest concession areas, where developments are slated to take place between 2021 and 2030. These areas are spread over two regencies, Lamandau and West Kotawaringin, and surrounded by 25 villages.
“These funds are for two years of work. We’re disbursing the ones generated in 2021-2022, converted from dollar at the rate of the handover report date. The next round of payments will be at the end of this year, with the money coming from the 2023-2024 period. By 2025 and up to 2030, this income will be distributed once a year. It’s a net revenue from forest use and all the partnership fees will be covered by the company. With this handover ceremony, we as a company have fulfilled our responsibility,” Redi said.
The partnership covers a 205.6 hectare plot within KTH’s concession area in Runtu Village.
“We hope the village [beneficiary] can make the most [of the money] for its own good and that the government may give Haloban directions not to step out of its corridor,” said Runtu village chief Akbar Musafar in his greetings.
Meanwhile, farmer group leader Hadi Yayatno thanked Korintiga Hutani for the handover, which allowed him to learn about the administration procedure and documents required to obtain the funds.
“It’s not perfect, but we strive to fulfill our responsibility by learning what administration requirements to meet. We thank Korintiga Hutani for these funds,” he said.
Revenue-sharing-based forestry partnership is one way to settle social issues (regarding the rights of farmers and obligations of companies) and land conflicts. It is our wish that this cooperation enables us to preserve forests and maintain environmental balance that benefits us all. (Renee/KTH)