Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, with 17,000 islands of varying sizes and elevations, from lowlands to very high mountains, stretching more than 5000 km eastward from Sabang in Aceh to Merauke in Papua. Although occupying only 1.3% of the world’s land area, Indonesia possesses the third-largest rainforest and the second-highest level of biodiversity, with very high species diversity and endemism. However, during the last two decades, Indonesia has been known as a country with a high level of deforestation, a producer of smoke from burning forests and land, and a producer of carbon emissions. The aim of this paper is to review the environmental history and the long process of Indonesian forest management towards achieving environmental sustainability and community welfare. To do this, we analyze the milestones of Indonesian forest management history, present and future challenges, and provide strategic recommendations toward a viable Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) system. Our review showed that the history of forestry management in Indonesia has evolved through a long process, especially related to contestation over the control of natural resources and supporting policies and regulations. During the process, many efforts have been applied to reduce the deforestation rate, such as a moratorium on permitting primary natural forest and peat land, land rehabilitation and soil conservation, environmental protection, and other significant regulations. Therefore, these efforts should be maintained and improved continuously in the future due to their significant positive impacts on a variety of forest areas toward the achievement of viable SFM. Finally, we conclude that the Indonesian government has struggled to formulate sustainable forest management policies that balance economic, ecological, and social needs, among others, through developing and implementing social forestry instruments, developing and implementing human resource capacity, increasing community literacy, strengthening forest governance by eliminating ambiguity and overlapping regulations, simplification of bureaucracy, revitalization of traditional wisdom, and fair law enforcement.

Based on habitat preferences, in this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of the Magnolia genus in the northern part of Sulawesi. Habitat characteristics, especially temperature, precipitation, and topography, were determined using spatial analysis. The temperature and precipitation datasets were obtained from WorldClim BIO Variables V1, and topographical data were obtained from the Google Earth Engine. Data collection began in 2008–2009 and was completed in 2019–2020. In total, we analyzed 786 waypoints. The genus distribution was then predicted based on the most suitable habitat characteristics and mapped spatially. This study confirmed that Magnolia spp. distribution is affected by the annual temperature range, precipitation seasonality, and elevation. We discovered endemic and endangered species, Magnolia sulawesiana Brambach, Noot., and Culmsee, that were previously distributed exclusively in the central part of Sulawesi. Five waypoints of the endemic species were found in the conservation area of the Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve and on the border of Bogani Nani Wartabone Nation Park. In general, M. sulawesiana is distributed at higher elevations than other Magnolia species. This study provides a scientific basis for forest officers to develop in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies and landscape protection measures to maintain the sustainable use of the genus, especially the sustainability of endemic species.

The changing regulation for community plantation forest (CPF) from social forestry point of view into a business-oriented context has no significant effects on its capital strengthening. Limited capital becomes an obstacle for farmers to develop the CPF area. It encourages the CPF to conduct a partnership scheme with the nearest company in its working area. The objectives of the research are to evaluate the partnership scheme and to make improvements from the evaluation results. The research method used is descriptive analysis and quantitative approach. The results show that many problems have been raised during the partnership implementation as farmers have no bargaining position, the company’s log price is not feasible, and no explanation on how the price is determined. The profit margin of the CPF is the lowest (Rp98,000/ton wood) or 11.8% among the parties involved in the wood plantation businesses. Therefore, the partnership scheme must be improved for better prosperity of CPF farmers through shifting from partnership CPF to self-sufficient CPF. This shifting provides a high bargaining position and better revenue for the CPF farmers.

The Minister of Environment and Forestry has designated 52 units of Special Purpose Forest Areas (KHDTK) in 2015, in which the Research Development and Innovation Agency manages 35 units with an area of 37,569 ha. In fact, almost all of the KHDTK areas are inseparable from land conflicts with local communities, including in KHDTK Carita. More than 600 farmers have encroached 80% of the area by developing non-forestry crops. This study aims to provide a policy recommendation for conflict resolution in KHDTK and encourage the acceleration of implementation and achievement of national priority policy targets for social forestry. For this study, a participatory action research (PAR) approach is used to encourage social change at the local level and policies at national level. The results of the study reveal that there are two types of conflict namely management conflict involving three different institutions, and utilization conflict involving residents who live in two different villages. A combination of a local elite approach and a formal (legality) approach are needed in conflict resolution. Recognition and protection of forestry partnerships (Kulin KK) is also one of the solutions offered in conflict resolution.