Forest Defenders Train on Digital Mapping Platforms in Indonesia

Maps are essential in the fight against forest degradation. Digital mapping platforms enable accuracy and are highly useful for forest protection. With funding from Google.org’s Impact Challenge for Women and Girls, The Asia Foundation worked with two local partners, PUPUK Surabaya in Sintang and LivE in Bengkulu, for training to focus on Solution Technology-Based Participatory Training on Mapping for Women and Youth. The training was joined by forest defenders from Forest Management Village Institutions, Social Forestry Business Group), and Women and Youth Groups. The training in Bengkulu took place at Bukit Kaba Tourism Park, Batu Ampar Village, Kapahiang–Bengkulu, at Sintang’s Monfort Monastery.

Participants received training materials related to the Social Forestry Scheme under Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry No. 9/2021 concerning Social Forestry Management. In addition to basic knowledge of data collection, the training also included basic theory and practice of online mapping applications such as Avenza Maps and Google Earth. Participants learned to operate a GPS receiver, create coordinates, and look for coordinates to make paths and tracks.

For field practice, team members from each group had different responsibilities to help them learn the mapping process, from detecting a spot using GPS to determining accuracy level. A follow-up meeting will take place within a month after the field training. In the meantime, the participants agreed to share their skills and knowledge with team members unable to join, socializing what they have learned as part of the training implementation. After joining the training, participants will be able to practice reliable mapping methods to map protection and utilization zones and community land with forestry permits, especially in the three assisted areas of the Social Forestry and Youth Program.

Translation

Training Partisipatif Platform Pemetaan Digital untuk Penjaga Hutan

Peta berperan penting dalam langkah-langkah antisipasi degradasi hutan. Platform pemetaan digital menawarkan akurasi yang berguna untuk aktivitas pelestarian hutan. Sehubungan dengan itu, The Asia Foundation bekerja sama dengan dua partner lokal, PUPUK Surabaya, di Sintang; dan LivE di Bengkulu, menggelar Pelatihan Partisipatif Berbasis Teknologi Solutif untuk Perempuan dan Generasi Muda. Pelatihan diikuti oleh penjaga hutan dari Lembaga Desa Pengelola Hutan (LDPH), Kelompok Usaha Perhutanan Sosial (KUPSA), dan Kelompok Perempuan dan Generasi Muda. Pelatihan di Bengkulu berlangsung di Taman Wisata Bukit Kaba, Desa Batu Ampar, Kapahiang – Bengkulu dan di Sintang, Biara Montfort.

Peserta menerima materi pelatihan terkait Skema Perhutanan Sosial sesuai Peraturan Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan No.9/2021 tentang Pengelolaan Perhutanan Sosial. Di samping dibekali pengetahuan dasar tentang pengumpulan data, pelatihan juga meliputi pemahaman dasar pemetaan online seperti Avenza Maps dan Google Earth. Peserta pun mempelajari cara mengoperasikan Receiver GPS, mencari titik koordinat, hingga membuat jalur dan tracking.

Pada praktek lapangan, masing-masing anggota kelompok diberi tugas yang berbeda-beda untuk membantu mereka mempelajari proses pemetaan, mulai dari mendeteksi titik menggunakan GPS sampai dengan menentukan level akurasi.

Pertemuan lanjutan dijadwalkan satu bulan setelah pelatihan. Sementara itu, peserta sepakat akan berbagi keterampilan dan pengetahuan mereka kepada rekan-rekan yang berhalangan hadir, mensosialisasikan apa yang telah dipelajari sebagai implementasi pelatihan yang telah diterima.

Melalui pelatihan ini peserta diharap dapat memahami praktek pemetaan yang tepercaya, mampu memetakan zona perlindungan dan pemanfaatan. Serta memetakan lahan garapan komunitas yang terdapat di Izin Hutan Desa, terutama di tiga dampingan program PPSGM (Program Perhutanan Sosial dan Generasi Muda).