Banjar Encourages Social Forestry to Become a Village Economic Driver

MARTAPURA, GARISBUMI.com – The Banjar Regency Government is encouraging social forestry to become a driver of the village economy through developing productive businesses, processing products and expanding market access. Regional development is carried out in an integrated manner so that improving community welfare goes hand in hand with environmental protection.

These steps were discussed in the Pentahelix Focus Group Discussion (FGD) for the Acceleration of Social Forestry in Banjar Regency in the Baiman Hall, Banjar Regency Regional Development Planning, Research and Innovation Agency (Bapperida) Office, Tuesday (6/10/2026).

Banjar Regency Regional Secretary Yudi Andrea, who opened the activity, said that forest and rural areas have ecological as well as economic value. Management needs to be measurable and integrated so that the benefits can be felt by the community in the long term.

One of the strategies being encouraged is Integrated Area Development (IAD) or integrated regional development based on social forestry. This approach connects the agricultural, tourism, infrastructure and environmental sectors in regional development.

"Through IAD, social forestry becomes a real way to open up economic opportunities for the community through developing productive businesses, strengthening groups, downstreaming products and expanding market access," said Yudi.

Strengthen Business Groups and Product Legality

Yudi emphasized the importance of dividing roles between sectors so that social forestry development has clear support, starting from business institutions to product marketing.

The Community and Village Empowerment Service is directed to strengthen village-owned business entities (BUMDes) and Social Forestry Business Groups (KUPS).