PERMENHUT 56/2008: Forestry Sector Planning and Development Framework

Peraturan Menteri Kehutanan Nomor 56 Tahun 2008 establishes comprehensive planning frameworks for Indonesia's forestry sector development. As one of the foundational planning regulations from the pre-merger Ministry of Forestry era (before 2014 integration with Ministry of Environment), PERMENHUT 56/2008 provides systematic approaches to forest resource management that balance production, conservation, and community welfare objectives.

Strategic Planning Hierarchy

The regulation establishes multi-level planning:

National Forest Plan (Rencana Kehutanan Nasional): 20-year strategic vision for forest management across all forest functions—production, protection, conservation.

Provincial Forest Plans: Provincial-level operationalization of national policies adapted to regional ecological and socioeconomic conditions.

Forest Management Unit Plans (Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan/KPH): Operational plans for specific forest management units covering 20,000-100,000 hectares.

This nested hierarchy ensures policy coherence from national strategy to field implementation.

Multi-Functional Forest Management

PERMENHUT 56/2008 recognizes forests provide multiple values requiring integrated management:

Production Functions: Sustainable timber harvesting, non-timber forest products, industrial plantations generating economic benefits and employment.

Protection Functions: Watershed protection, erosion control, water regulation, disaster mitigation safeguarding downstream communities and infrastructure.

Conservation Functions: Biodiversity preservation, endemic species habitat, carbon sequestration, ecosystem services maintaining ecological integrity.

Planning processes must optimize these functions based on each forest area's biophysical characteristics and stakeholder needs.

Participatory Planning Requirements

The regulation mandates stakeholder consultation in all planning stages:
- Government agencies (forestry, environment, agriculture, public works)
- Local communities and indigenous peoples
- Private sector (forest concessionaires, plantation companies)
- Civil society organizations
- Academic institutions

Multi-stakeholder forums ensure plans reflect diverse perspectives and build consensus for implementation.

Implementation Monitoring and Adaptive Management

Forest plans are not static documents but dynamic frameworks adjusted based on monitoring results. Key performance indicators include:
- Forest cover change
- Timber production volumes
- Non-timber forest product yields
- Watershed hydrological functions
- Biodiversity indices
- Community welfare improvements

Annual evaluations assess progress, identify challenges, and inform plan adjustments ensuring adaptive management responsive to changing conditions.

Legacy and Evolution

While PERMENHUT 56/2008 predates major forestry policy reforms (merger with environment ministry in 2014, social forestry expansion since 2016), its core principles—integrated multi-functional management, participatory planning, adaptive implementation—remain relevant. Subsequent regulations (PermenLHK, Permenhut post-2024 re-separation) have refined and updated specific provisions while retaining the strategic framework established in 2008.

Conclusion

PERMENHUT 56/2008 provides enduring foundations for Indonesia's forestry sector planning. By establishing systematic, participatory, adaptive approaches to forest management that balance economic, environmental, and social objectives, the regulation supports sustainable forestry contributing to national development while preserving Indonesia's globally significant forest ecosystems for future generations.

Sumber Hukum: Archives indicate PERMENHUT 56/2008 in vault; verify current status via BPK Database

Peraturan Terkait: UU 41/1999 (Kehutanan), PP 6/2007 (Tata Hutan dan Penyusunan Rencana Pengelolaan Hutan)

Sektor: Forestry Planning, Strategic Management

Status Regulasi: To be verified (likely historical reference, may be superseded)

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