Role of social forestry in facing COVID -19

Forests are vital for communities in providing livelihood options and food security. By providing legal access through social forestry programs, also known as community forestry, positive feedback has been received including decreased deforestation rate, poverty reduction and improved economic livelihoods.

Unfortunately, the emerging pandemic has halted the progress of social forestry in the region. During the pandemic, there is an increase in food consumption while production is declining due to some restriction measurements. With economic development being stalled, there are fewer job opportunities in the cities, which drives people to return to rural areas.

Social forestry can provide a safety net to offset the lay-off problem while providing a driving force for the movement of the rural economy through food security with agroforestry during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

This side event at the World Forestry Congress will be hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia and RECOFTC. The event will discuss the experience of social forestry activities and the mitigation of COVID-19 impacts. It will explore actions that are needed to strengthen the capacity and capability of social forestry actors including forest farmers.

Keynote

• Bambang Supriyanto, Director-General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia

Panel

• Director of Social Forestry and Business Development in the Republic of Indonesia
• Representative from ASEAN Member State
• Ronnakorn Triraganon, Senior Strategic Advisor at RECOFTC
• Social Forestry Expert 
• Social Forestry Activist