The Role of the ULM Forestry Faculty in the Success of the Independent Peat Care Village Program in North Hulu Sungai Regency
Hulu Sungai Selatan – Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) formed the Independent Village Cares for Gambut (DMPG) program as a form of implementation of previously agreed cooperation. The implementation of this program was carried out in Pawalutan Hulu Sungai Utara Village with assistance from the ULM Forestry Faculty Team to the village community.
Mandiri Cares Gambut Village is a community-based peat ecosystem restoration program carried out outside forest areas and outside concessions. This program was formed with the aim of encouraging community empowerment for both men and women, including their economic potential in a sustainable manner. The government hopes that the economic revitalization in the Independent Village Cares for Gambut program can improve the welfare and independence of the community. It is hoped that this increase in welfare can then reduce the degradation of the peat ecosystem.
Through the DMPG program which will be implemented from 2021-2023 in Pawalutan Village, the Peat Ecosystem Protection and Management Working Team (TK-PPEG) has been running an etawa goat farming and tree planting business. In 2021, Pawalutan Village received a budget of 36 million which was used to purchase 10 Etawa goats consisting of 9 females and 1 male. Even though in 2022 there was a setback with many goat kids dying from the virus, currently the development of goats is slowly increasing until now.
Regarding the availability of goat food, TK-PPEG routinely carries out grass-finding activities which are carried out alternately around the village area. All activities and business planning are assisted and guided by an accompanying team from the ULM Faculty of Forestry who actively participates in monitoring the program in Pawalutan village so that it runs smoothly.
The DMPG program includes not only men in Pawalutan Village, but also women or what people usually call women in the South Kalimantan area as “acil”. The acil of Pawalutan Village also participate in managing the DMPG program, such as buying feed, looking after plants, and collecting goat dung for fertilizer.
Apart from assistance from the DMPG program, PPEG Kindergarten in Pawalutan Village also received assistance from PT. Bandangan Tirta Agung in 2022. The assistance provided in the DMPG program is budgeted for the first 3 years, so that the continuation of goat farming must be carried out independently by village residents considering the very rapid development of goats. At the start of the program, there were around 34 Etawa goats that have now grown to 87 Etawa goats. The etawa flower farming business that has been promoted by TK-PPEG Pawalutan Village has become a raw model for the community and surrounding villages. Through this program, it is hoped that in the future the attention of the regional government and local companies will be focused on the DMPG program managed by TK-PPEG Pawalutan Village.
