Socioeconomic Analysis of Forest Farmers in Social Forestry Schemes in West Kalimantan

Journal: Journal of Horizon

Publication: 2025-11-27 · Vol. 2 No. 2 · pp. 40–51

DOI: 10.62872/jh.v2i2.448

Abstract

This study examines the socioeconomic outcomes of forest farmers participating in social forestry schemes in West Kalimantan. Using a qualitative document analysis approach, the research synthesizes scientific publications, government reports, and community forestry studies to assess livelihood patterns, empowerment dynamics, and resilience factors among farmer groups. The findings show that social forestry increases household welfare only when farmers gain not just access to forest land but also business-oriented support, market integration, institutional autonomy, and equitable decision-making. Income improvement is most visible where livelihood diversification, agroforestry practices, and value-added forest product development are adopted. Conversely, socioeconomic vulnerability persists when participation is symbolic, organizational capacity is weak, or partnerships reproduce dependency on external actors. The study concludes that social forestry must evolve from a land tenure program to a community economic development system through cooperative entrepreneurship, inclusive governance, and long-term institutional support. The article provides novelty by integrating income structures, empowerment, and resilience into a single analytical framework to evaluate socioeconomic sustainability for forest farmers in West Kalimantan.