Learning from East and North Kalimantan: Pioneering Green Development from the Village

Amidst the challenges of forest protection and the escalating risk of ecological disasters across various Indonesian regions, village-based development practices in East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan offer a distinct approach. Several areas in the region demonstrate that economic development and nature conservation can go hand in hand through strengthened village governance and active community involvement.

This idea emerged during the SIGAP Program Exposé in East and North Kalimantan, themed “Green Nodes: Celebrating Regional and Village/Kampung Development Collaboration,” held in Yogyakarta on Tuesday (12/5/2026).

The event served as a platform to share achievements, challenges, and lessons from village-based green development practices implemented in four regencies: Bulungan, Berau, East Kutai, and Mahakam Ulu. These diverse practices rely on a village empowerment approach known as SIGAP.

SIGAP, or Inspiring Community Action for Change, is a village empowerment approach developed by the Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) since 2010. This approach is carried out in collaboration with local governments and development partners, including Yayasan IRE Flamma Yogyakarta, Yayasan Sanggar Inovasi Desa Yogyakarta, Yayasan NASTARI Bogor, Yayasan PIONIR Bulungan, Yayasan BIKAL Bontang, and Gerbangmas Mahakam Ulu.

SIGAP focuses on strengthening village governance, securing rights and access to natural resource management—including through Social Forestry schemes—and developing sustainable livelihoods based on local potential.

Director General of Social Forestry at the Ministry of Forestry, Catur Endah Prasetiani, who attended the event, said that village-based development practices in East and North Kalimantan reflect the ideal direction of social forestry. “Forest management access must be built alongside strong village governance. When villages are supported to plan and manage their natural resources, social forestry can become a real instrument for forest protection and community welfare,” she said.

The Journey of SIGAP in East and North Kalimantan

The SIGAP approach was first introduced in 2010 in two villages on the forest edge of Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. In 2018, this practice was expanded through the SIGAP Sejahtera initiative, which reached all villages in the regency. Assistance was provided to strengthen village development planning, grow local economies, and integrate environmental aspects into village policies.

By 2022, SIGAP was replicated in East Kutai, East Kalimantan, and Bulungan, North Kalimantan. In East Kutai, SIGAP evolved from village-level facilitation to a landscape-scale initiative through the Integrated Area Development framework. In Bulungan, green development was integrated into both regional and village planning documents, including the Regional Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) and the Green Village Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJM Desa Hijau).

Overall, SIGAP has been implemented in 100 villages in Berau Regency, 16 villages in East Kutai, 18 villages in Bulungan (with a target of 74), and 8 villages in Mahakam Ulu (with a target of 23). Replication has also taken place in Riau, Bangka Belitung, and Southwest Papua Provinces.

Bulungan Regent Syarwani said that SIGAP-based village assistance helps local governments align economic development with environmental protection. “For us in Bulungan, protecting forests and improving village welfare are two agendas that must go hand in hand. SIGAP helps villages prepare stronger plans while supporting regional policies like green development and social forestry,” he said.

Mahakam Ulu Deputy Regent Suhuk also emphasized SIGAP’s role in assisting forest-edge communities to reduce deforestation. The program supports sustainable forest governance, land-use planning, and the development of local commodities. “Local governments are also supported in producing policies that enable sustainable area management and biodiversity protection,” he said.

Berau Regent Sri Juniarsih Mas highlighted the role of the SIGAP Village Academy (AKS) as a concrete example of how social learning can be carried out in a participatory and sustainable way. “AKS is not just a training program; it is a shared learning space that connects experiences, ideas, and best practices between villages, paving the way for adaptive, collaborative, future-oriented village leadership,” she said.

Replicating SIGAP at the National Level

The event, attended by various stakeholders, was joined by the Deputy for Community Empowerment, Disadvantaged, and Special Regions at the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment, Prof. Abdul Haris. According to him, empowering communities in villages around forest areas is key to preserving nature while improving welfare. “We hope community empowerment programs align toward one goal: ensuring the well-being of communities that protect nature.”

Jayadi, Director of Western Indonesia Development at the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), noted that the green development practices emerging from Kalimantan villages are important for shaping national policies. “What we see in East and North Kalimantan shows that sustainable development is not just a concept. When villages are strengthened, and local governments provide room, villages can become the engines of green development,” he said.

Nugroho Setijo Nagoro, Director General of Village Development at the Ministry of Villages, PDT, added that connectivity and the equal distribution of basic and digital infrastructure remain challenges in managing natural resources and developing forest-based commodity chains. “With adequate basic services and infrastructure, villages can optimally manage their natural resources. Community-driven approaches like SIGAP are expected to accelerate village development in forest areas,” he said.

Arie Sujito, Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni at Gadjah Mada University and a member of the IRE Expert Panel, stated that SIGAP places residents as the agents of change in sustainable development. “Development is not only about indicators but also about social processes. When communities are involved as the main actors, ecological and social change can progress together,” said Arie.

Meanwhile, YKAN’s Terrestrial Program Director, Ruslandi, added that one key to SIGAP’s success is the role of facilitators in villages. “Facilitators work with villagers to shape their vision, identify natural and social potential, and drive real change. They are not just program facilitators but also agents of change at the grassroots level,” he said.

Reflecting on this success, Ruslandi hopes these best practices will not remain local initiatives. He believes they need to be integrated into national policies to create broader and more sustainable change. “The SIGAP approach can be applied in Sumatra, Papua, or other regions. This way, we can control deforestation rates while ensuring community welfare,” he concluded.