Maluku Exports 45 Tons Of Social Forestry Commodities To China-India

AMBON - Maluku Province released the first 45 tons of social forestry commodities in the form of copal damar and spices (pala) to China and India, as a strategic step to strengthen the contribution of this archipelagic region in global trade.

The Governor of Maluku, Hendrik Lewerissa stated, this initial export is a tangible manifestation of the success of the social forestry program in improving community welfare.

"We are proud because non-wood forest products from farmer groups and indigenous legal communities in Maluku can now penetrate the international market. This is proof that people can be independent and contribute to the national economy," said Lewerissa as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 24.

On the occasion of exporting to India in the form of copal damar reached 30 tons with a value of Rp570 million.

This commodity comes from the Rambatu Village Forest Management Institute (LPHD) in West Seram Regency (SBB) as many as nine tons, the Tawa SBB Siwa Forest Farmers Group six tons, Central Maluku LPHD six tons, and the Sorebang Forest Farmer Group SBB nine tons.

Meanwhile, exports to China through Surabaya in the form of 15 tons of nutmeg spices with a value of IDR 1.6 billion.

This commodity comes from the Hutumuri State Indigenous Law Community in Ambon City as much as five tons, the Central Maluku Morella LPHD three tons, and the community around the forest area of Ambon Island 7 tons.

"This activity absorbs 165 workers, with 61 of them being women," he said.

He added that the Maluku Provincial Government will continue to strengthen assistance to forest farming groups in order to maintain commodity quality and expand the export market.

"Our target is that Maluku can become a center for producing superior forest products that are known to the world," he said.

Di tempat yang sama, Sekretaris Jenderal Kementerian Kehutanan, Mahfudz menegaskan ekspor perdana ini menjadi bukti perhutanan sosial mampu menggerakkan ekonomi rakyat sekaligus menjaga kelestarian hutan.

“Program perhutanan sosial tidak hanya memberi akses kelola hutan kepada masyarakat, tetapi juga membuka peluang ekspor sehingga memberikan nilai tambah ekonomi yang berkelanjutan,” ujarnya.

In the same place, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Forestry, Mahfudz emphasized that this inaugural export is proof that social forestry is able to move the people's economy while preserving the forest.

"Social forestry programs not only provide access to forest management to the community, but also open up export opportunities so as to provide sustainable economic added value," he said.