Figure 1. Participants pose for a group photo in the Imbo Putui Customary Forest area, Kenegerian Petapahan.
KAMPAR, 7 September 2026 – Government representatives, international partners, and forest-managing communities met at the Kenegerian Petapahan Customary Forest, located in Petapahan Village, Tapung District, Kampar Regency, as part of a field learning visit under the GREEN for Riau initiative. The activity served as a space for direct dialogue and learning on customary forest governance, forest regeneration, sustainable livelihoods, and community knowledge and aspirations at the site level.
The visit was part of the GREEN for Riau High-Level Dialogue series held on the same day in Pekanbaru. Discussions on Jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD+) readiness did not take place only within the high-level forum, but continued through direct engagement with communities who protect and manage forests at the site level.
Figure 2. Annette Wallgren and Prof. Dr. Haruni Krisnawati pose with dancers from SMK Negeri 1 Petapahan, located around the Imbo Putui Ecotourism area.
The activity was attended by Prof. Dr. Haruni Krisnawati, S.Hut., M.Si., Expert Staff to the Minister for Climate Change, Ministry of Forestry; Annette Wallgren, UN-REDD Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Bambang Arifatmi, Country Coordinator of the UNEP UN-REDD Programme in Indonesia; M. Job Kurniawan, AP., M.Si., Acting Head of the Riau Provincial Environment and Forestry Agency; Purnama Irawansyah, Head of the Riau Provincial Bappeda; Dr. Masrizal Saraan, S.Hut, M.Si, Executive Director of Yayasan PETAI; and representatives of GREEN for Riau implementing partners.
The delegation was received by Said Faizan Tas’ad, Head of the Kenegerian Petapahan Customary Forest Management Institution (LPHA), familiarly known as Habib, together with customary elders, namely Muhammad Syafii, S.H., M.H. (Datuk Suro Dirajo); Zulfahmi, S.H. (Datuk Setia Pahlawan); and Drs. Khaidir Muluk, M.Si. (Datuk Majo Indo).
This visit was part of efforts to strengthen synergy among the Ministry of Forestry, Riau Provincial Government, international partners, and communities. Through direct interaction, stakeholders could understand that JREDD+ readiness does not depend only on policies, systems, and documents, but also on the realities of forest management, local governance, and community needs at the site level.
Listening to Knowledge from the Customary Forest
Figure 3. Participants visit and walk through the Kenegerian Petapahan Customary Forest.
Figure 4. Participants visit and walk through the Kenegerian Petapahan Customary Forest.
While exploring the Customary Forest, Habib and the customary elders explained the history of the area, the relationship between the Kenegerian Petapahan community and the forest, customary rules, and the ecological, social, and cultural values attached to the area.
Participants also visited a kulim tree and several large trees that form part of the history and identity of Imbo Putui. Knowledge about the forest is not only stored within management institutions, but also lives in collective memory, rules, and customary values passed down across generations.
Figure 5. From left: Zulfahmi, S.H. (Datuk Setia Pahlawan), Annette Wallgren, Prof. Dr. Haruni Krisnawati, M. Job Kurniawan, AP., M.Si. (Acting Head of DLHK Riau), and Purnama Irawansyah (Head of Bappeda Riau), pose under the Pohon Batu tree in the Kenegerian Petapahan Customary Forest.
The activity continued to Soko Kampuong Nursery. Farhan Amin, Head of Soko Kampuong Nursery, introduced various seedlings developed by the community, including kulim, kuras, yellow meranti, durian, matoa, and jengkol. He also explained the role of the nursery in supporting forest regeneration and maintaining the availability of local plants that hold value for communities.
Figure 6. Participants visit the Soko Kampuong Nursery House.
Participants then planted yellow meranti and kulim seedlings in the Imbo Putui ecotourism area. This activity showed the links between area regeneration, conservation of local plants, and community-based ecotourism development.
Figure 7. From left: Muhammad Syafii, S.H., M.H. (Datuk Suro Dirajo), Annette Wallgren, Prof. Dr. Haruni Krisnawati, and Zulfahmi, S.H. (Datuk Setia Pahlawan), after planting seedlings in the Imbo Putui Ecotourism area.
Cultural Heritage and the Role of Women
Figure 8. Annette Wallgren tries painting a tudung saji with guidance from Nur Hasroh, an artisan from Petapahan Village.
Figure 9. Presentation of miniature Petapahan tudung saji by Muhammad Syafii, S.H., M.H. (Datuk Suro Dirajo) to Annette Wallgren and Prof. Dr. Haruni Krisnawati as souvenirs that can be used as wall decorations.
The visit also showed the important role of women in preserving cultural heritage while developing economic activities based on local knowledge. Syarifah Jannahtin Aliyah, a women’s figure and member of the Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) Pokdarwis Imbo Putui, introduced woven tudung saji and traditional village cakes to participants.
The Petapahan tudung saji is traditionally used to cover dishes during makan berjambar, a communal eating tradition held during kenduri and various important events in Petapahan Village. This craft has a long history and customary value that continues to be preserved today.
The tudung saji is made from several natural materials, such as rattan, young bamboo on the inner part, forest salak leaves or sangai, and banana leaf fiber. In addition to its traditional form as a food cover, local women’s groups also produce smaller versions used as keychains and wall decorations.
This product development expands the use of traditional crafts without detaching them from the knowledge and cultural identity of Petapahan.
Part of Riau’s JREDD+ Readiness Process
Through dialogue with customary leaders, LPHA members, nursery managers, and women leaders, participants listened to the experiences, challenges, needs, and hopes of communities in protecting Imbo Putui Customary Forest. This dialogue positioned communities as main actors and sources of knowledge in the development of forest management policies and programmes.
Figure 10. Participants pose for a group photo after the visit series concluded.
The visit to Imbo Putui was one part of the JREDD+ readiness series through GREEN for Riau. This readiness process continues through activities at both policy and field levels.
The next agenda includes strengthening various readiness protocols and tools, including Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC/PADIATAPA), the Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanism (FGRM), Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), and other social and environmental safeguards.
The process also includes strengthening stakeholder engagement, benefit-sharing mechanisms, monitoring systems, and other supporting tools. The entire series is needed so that JREDD+ development in Riau can proceed in a measurable, transparent, inclusive manner that respects community rights.
Sustained support and collaboration from central and regional governments, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, international partners, academics, civil society organizations, the private sector, and other stakeholders are needed to strengthen this process.
Lessons from Imbo Putui are expected to help ensure that Riau’s JREDD+ readiness remains rooted in the experiences and conditions of communities at the site level.