Ministry of Forestry Encourages KHDTK to Become Forestry Innovation Center

SAMARINDA, GARISBUMI.com – The Ministry of Forestry encourages each Forest Area with a Special Purpose or KHDTK for Forestry Education and Training to set a concrete target that must be realized within one year.

The target is part of the transformation of KHDTK into a Center of Excellence or a leading center for human resource development, research, technology, and forestry innovation.

The idea was discussed at the 2026 Forestry Training KHDTK Management Coordination Meeting held in Samarinda, East Kalimantan (Kaltim), on September 14-15, 2026.

Rakor brings together 44 KHDTK Forestry Training managers from all over Indonesia. Participants come from the elements of higher education leaders as well as ministries and institutions.

The head of the Ministry of Forestry's Human Resources Counseling and Development Agency, Indra Exploitasia, said rakor should produce measurable changes, not stop at discussing problems.

“This rack does not stop at the discussion. Each KHDTK must go home with a clear target. When we meet again in 2027, what we bring is no longer a list of problems, but successes and good practices that can be shared with other KHDTKs," said Indra.

KHDTK Becomes Forestry Living Laboratory

According to Indra, KHDTK has a strategic position in preparing competent forestry human resources.

The area allows education, training, research, innovation, and skill development activities to be carried out directly at the site level.

“KHDTK is the nation's strategic asset. We want KHDTK not only to become a forest area for education and training purposes, but to develop into a living natural laboratory, the birthplace of competent human resources, innovation, technology, and replicable forest management practices," Indra said.

The transformation is expected to make KHDTK not only a place to study forestry theory. The area must also be a space to test and produce solutions to various forest management problems.

However, the effort faces a number of challenges. Several KHDTKs are still constrained by institutional issues, financing, illegal mining activities, and illegal use of areas for agriculture, plantations, and settlements.

These issues have the potential to disrupt the ecological function of the region while hampering education, research, and field learning activities.

Four KHDTK Transformation Strategies

To make KHDTK a Center of Excellence, BP2SDM of the Ministry of Forestry encourages four strengthening strategies.

First, strengthening regulations and basic policies. This step includes strengthening the status of KHDTK as a formal center of excellence, adjusting nomenclature that accommodates the functions of education, research, and innovation, and preparing transparent indicators and monitoring systems.

Second, strengthening collaboration and institutions. KHDTK is encouraged to be part of the implementation of the Merdeka Campus and developed as a forest-based living lab.

KHDTK managers are also directed to build strategic partnerships and interregional consortia. Communities are placed as partners in producing knowledge or co-producers of knowledge, not just as program recipients.

Third, strengthening financing and economic innovation. This strategy is carried out by developing innovative and sustainable financing, utilizing environmental services as a source of income, and strengthening the social and cultural functions of the region.

Fourth, capacity building and technology utilization. The steps include digitalization, technological transformation, revitalization of governance and human resources based on the principles of good forest governance, as well as the development of competency standards and certification for KHDTK managers.

Discuss Boundaries to Karhutla

The KHDTK Forestry Training 2026 Management Record also discusses a number of technical and policy issues.

The agenda includes institutional strengthening, completion of boundaries, preparation of long-term management plans, development of financing models, and prevention and management of forest and land fires.

The participants also shared regional management practices. Among them are the experience of KHDTK Sawala Mandapa who received the Wana Lestari Appreciation 2026 and KHDTK Universitas Brawijaya who received a similar category award in 2025.

One of this year's rakor breakthroughs is the obligation for each KHDTK to determine a quick win. The target must be realistic, measurable, and realized within one year.

The achievements of each region will be evaluated at the next meeting in 2027. With that approach, the success of one KHDTK can be an example and replicated by other regional managers.

The transformation towards the Center of Excellence also opens wider collaboration spaces with universities, local governments, the business world, the community, and development partners.

Through this step, KHDTK is expected to be able to produce competent human resources, innovation, technology, and forest management practices that provide ecological, economic, and social benefits.

KHDTK is not only a place to learn about forests, but also the birthplace of solutions for Indonesian forestry development.