Reconciling different interests in the Hutan Harapan rainforest ecosystem restoration management in Sumatra, Indonesia

The Hutan Harapan is the last remaining lowland tropical rainforest in Sumatra, with an area of ca. 100,000 ha (hectares). It was granted by the Ministry of Forestry to a private company (PT REKI) with an Ecosystem Restoration Concession (ERC) license to carry out forest restoration. ERC is a new market-oriented policy option in Indonesia that promotes private investment in restoring and managing production forests to reverse deforestation and contribute to ambitious global restoration targets. Despite being a logged-over area, Hutan Harapan is still rich in biodiversity, home to the Batin Sembilan indigenous people and the Malay tribe, as well as many migrants. However, Hutan Harapan has become a forest island surrounded by oil palm plantations, monoculture industrial timber estates, and agricultural lands. As a result, Hutan Harapan has become highly accessible and exposed to threats such as encroachment, illegal logging, poaching, and forest fires. This study presents lessons from PT REKI's experience in the forest in addressing complex issues and threats with different management approaches. Stakeholder analysis, participation and social capital theory, and ladder participation theory are used to analyze the forest management approach taken by PT REKI. This company has implemented stakeholder engagement strategies in its operations, used social capital in conflict resolution and law enforcement, conducted tiered participation, and promoted multipurpose forest management to address threats, deforestation, encroachment, forest fires, and other illegal activities. Using these approaches, PT REKI has delivered a remarkably positive outcome, as evidenced by declining rates of deforestation and illegal activities, effective conflict resolution, prevention of forest and land fires, and garnering support from surrounding concessionaires and other stakeholders. It has resulted in land use stabilization, reduced social costs, a positive corporate image, and broader stakeholder support, instilling hope for the future of forest management. PT REKI, however, still faces many challenges due to heightened social pressures, wildlife poaching, and land clearing for oil palm development.