Harnessing Technology, Raising a New Generation of Forest Monitors

Artikel ini tersedia dalam Bahasa Indonesia
 

Penyang was the youngest participant of WRI Indonesia and the IMF Fund’s forest monitoring training. Forestry issues have been part of the life of this young man from Central Kalimantan since a young age. Only 18, he was inspired by his father, an Independent Forest Monitor (IFM) who has spent nearly two decades combatting illegal forest practices. Penyang saw directly from his father how IFMs played a vital role as overseers of the Timber Legality and Sustainability Verification System (SVLK) implementation. He once joined his father in investigating river pollution in the Kapuas River, assisting with the documentation of field findings. 

The Indonesian government introduced the SVLK in 2009 to ensure timber legality and sustainable production forest management. Ultimately, this initiative seeks to enhance the value of timber products in international markets amid rampant illegal logging in Indonesia. While IFMs are essential for ensuring an effective SVLK, they are currently facing multiple challenges:

1. Insufficient IFM Coverage. Currently, only about 406 IFMs are tasked with monitoring an estimated 29 million hectares of licensed forest area across nearly 2000 permit holders (Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management, 2023). That equates to roughly 71.000 hectares per IFM.

2. Low public engagement and youth participation in independent monitoring stemming from lack of awareness, coupled with perceptions of the work being too difficult or unrewarding. Technological and other infrastructures are needed to support IFMs in their work. The absence of government incentives further discourage involvement, rendering much of the monitoring work voluntary and unsustainable despite its critical importance.

3. Many IFMs face constraints in terms of data access, security, funding, and capacity development. As a result, some have shifted focus toward broader community empowerment, moving beyond timber oversight to advocate for forest governance at large.

Digital Tools as a Gateway for IFM Regeneration

As digital natives, young people are naturally equipped to embrace new technologies. The use of digital tools like Global Forest Watch (GFW) is a promising entry point into the movement for more youth like Penyang. These technologies provide easy access to accurate data and information, making it easier for young people to actively contribute to forest monitoring, promote sustainability, and advocate for transparent forest governance. Globally, an estimated 85% of youth live in regions where forests are integral to daily life. In Indonesia alone, roughly 50 million people under the age of 30 maintain strong ties to natural resources. This demographic presents an invaluable opportunity to strengthen forest governance and raise awareness on environmental preservation .

Participation in forest monitoring doesn’t always have to start in the field. With platforms like GFW, anyone can track changes in forest cover, generate evidence-based reports, and champion policy reforms that promote transparency. Digital solutions not only expand the reach limited resources but also help reshape public perception, transforming the negative image of IFMs and attract more youth involvement in forest monitoring.

Forest Monitoring Capacity Building for the Next Generation

To nurture the next generation of forest monitors, WRI Indonesia and the IFM Fund (formerly Yayasan Pemantau Independen Kehutanan Indonesia or Y-PIKI) launched a series of capacity-building trainings for the youth in Papua and Bogor. The sessions brought together 26 participants aged 16 to 35 from 15 civil society organizations working in environmental and forestry sectors. Representing 10 provinces, including Aceh, Papua, and North Kalimantan, the group collectively covers a monitoring area of nearly 600.000 hectares of licensed forest.

The trainings emphasized the use of digital tools for early detection of forest cover change. WRI Indonesia introduced  participants to GFW, which offers open-access data and near-real-time satellite imagery of forest cover change. It also comes with interactive features, such as an analytical feature to support on-the-ground illegal logging monitoring efforts through detection of forest cover loss outside of concession areas.

Participants were also shown how to access high-resolution satellite imagery via GFW to better observe forest cover changes, verify deforestation indicators, and compare before-and-after images in specific areas. These features allow IFMs to identify deforestation patterns, detect illegal activities more accurately, and support data-driven decision-making in forest protection efforts.

Over four intensive training days, participants learned to use GFW for:

1. Identifying high-risk areas for deforestation by analyzing illegal logging incdications using alerts, concession boundaries, and permit data.
2. Conducting HD satellite-based preliminary verifications before going into the field to minimize misinterpretation.
3. Leveraging early warning systems to improve long-term monitoring through subscription to deforestation alerts for quick response.

Beyond the tech, participants also received practical training on field investigation techniques for forestry-related legal violations, which are essential for IFMs to assess complexities on the ground, identify problems, and make informed, data-based decisions. The training covered forest monitoring and investigation frameworks, data collection and document analysis (desk study), field investigation preparation, investigator safety protocols, forestry violation hotspots, and fact and evidence-gathering techniques.

The curriculum also covered stakeholder mapping, including identification of influential actors, power dynamics analysis, communication and coordination strategies, conflict management, and advocacy strategies. With these skills, IFMs are better positioned to understand  the power dynamics between key stakeholders and come up with more effective and targeted investigation strategies.

Through initiatives that nurture IFMs, WRI Indonesia and the IFM Fund are laying the groundwork for a new generation of forest monitors to contribute to environmental protection in Indonesia.

Penyang’s story serves as an inspiration for young people to carry on the legacy of forest guardianship. Discover more forest monitoring stories and become part of the Independent Forest Monitor community with IFM Fund at forestfund.or.id, and discover how forests in your area are faring at www.globalforestwatch.org/map.