BALINEWSID.COM, MALANG — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry is stepping up efforts to develop community-based forestry businesses in East Java, focusing on agroforestry, coffee production and sustainable coastal tourism.

The initiative comes as the economic transaction value generated by social forestry programs in East Java reached Rp1 trillion between 2021 and 2026, according to the ministry.

The ministry’s Directorate for Social Forestry Business Development (PUPS), together with the East Java Forestry Agency, conducted a Social Forestry Safari on Sept. 26-27 in Malang and Pasuruan regencies to promote community-based businesses built around local forest and coastal resources.

The program involved several social forestry groups, including HKm KTH Wonosantri Abadi in Malang and HKm KTH Sumber Makmur Abadi, also known as Sumadi, in Pasuruan.

The activities also covered the development of coastal tourism destinations at Lenggok Beach in Gajahrejo Village and Tanjung Penyu Beach in Sitiarjo Village, both in Malang Regency.

“Social forestry provides communities with opportunities to develop businesses based on the potential of their respective areas. Agroforestry and ecotourism are part of efforts to strengthen the local economy while maintaining forest and ecosystem sustainability,” said Apri Dwi Sumarah, director of Social Forestry Business Development, in Malang on Monday.

Coffee Production Integrated With Agroforestry

In Pasuruan, the Sumadi community forestry group is developing high-value Arabica coffee using the Typica and Bourbon Yellow varieties under an agroforestry system.

Coffee plants are grown alongside a range of fruit trees, including avocado, jackfruit, lemon, orange and mango.

One of the group’s products is Sumadi Coffee, produced on the slopes of Mount Arjuno.

In Malang, the Wonosantri Abadi group has developed its coffee business from agroforestry cultivation to post-harvest processing.

Its products are marketed as roasted beans, ground coffee and drip-bag coffee.

The integrated approach allows communities to generate income from multiple commodities within the same landscape while maintaining vegetation cover and supporting forest conservation.

Government Calls for Sustainable Coastal Tourism

The Social Forestry Safari also addressed the development of coastal tourism and partnerships with businesses.

Apri stressed that ecotourism development should not focus solely on increasing visitor numbers but should also generate benefits for local communities and protect natural ecosystems.

“Nature tourism is not simply about attracting large numbers of tourists. Communities must benefit, while forests and ecosystems remain protected,” Apri said.

He added that flora, fauna and the natural character of tourism areas should be protected as part of tourism development.

As part of the program, participants planted keben trees, a species associated with coastal forests. They also released 148 hatchlings of olive ridley and hawksbill sea turtles in cooperation with Bajulmati Sea Turtle Conservation.

The activities were intended to support the protection of coastal ecosystems while strengthening the environmental foundation of nature-based tourism.

Social Forestry Economic Value Reaches Rp1 Trillion

The Ministry of Forestry said the development of social forestry businesses in East Java has been reflected in an economic transaction value of Rp1 trillion from 2021 to 2026.

“East Java has also achieved significant results in social forestry. The economic transaction value from 2021 to 2026 reached Rp1 trillion,” Apri said.

The ministry said the figure highlights the growing economic potential of communities involved in social forestry and the need to strengthen the sector through business assistance, partnerships and sustainable landscape management.

Through the Social Forestry Safari, the government is encouraging community access to forest management to develop into productive businesses, ranging from cultivation and processing to nature-based environmental services.

The ministry also aims to expand partnerships so that economic benefits can reach more communities without compromising the ecological functions of forest areas.

The government is positioning social forestry not only as a mechanism for communities to access and manage forest areas, but also as a platform for developing productive businesses while maintaining forest sustainability.