PT Wana Bakti Persada Utama (WBPU) together with the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN), from 6 to 8 October 2024 held Social Management and Introduction to SIGAP training for field operational staff. This training aims to enable staff to develop communication skills and a deeper understanding of the needs, desires and challenges faced by communities around the forest.
Field staff trained in social management will be better able to prevent and resolve conflicts with the community. Social conflicts often arise due to a lack of good communication or misunderstanding about the rights of indigenous peoples to forest land. With training, staff can become good mediators, minimize potential conflicts, and create mutually beneficial relationships between the company and the community. This is important so that company operations are not disrupted and the community also feels involved in managing forest resources.
Apart from that, social management training is also expected to improve the ability of PT WBPU staff to carry out a participatory approach. In the context of production forests, local communities often have invaluable local knowledge about forest ecosystems. By understanding how to collaborate with communities through open dialogue, field staff can obtain useful input in preserving forests. This approach not only supports sustainability, but also strengthens public trust in the company.
This training can also help field staff understand regulations and policies related to indigenous peoples' rights and natural resource management. This knowledge is important so that companies can carry out their operations in accordance with applicable regulations, including meeting sustainability certification standards set by international institutions. Thus, social management training plays a role in ensuring company compliance with laws and ethical standards.
Overall, social management training for PTWBPU field staff is not only about improving personal skills, but also contributes to the sustainability of company operations and the welfare of the surrounding community. With field staff who understand and are skilled in managing social relations, companies can continue to operate more effectively, with minimal conflict, and have a positive impact on the environment and community.
Meanwhile, the introduction of the SIGAP method (Citizen Inspirational Action for Change) is an approach designed to encourage active community participation in sustainable management of natural resources. In the context of production forest companies, introducing this method to staff is very important, because SIGAP focuses on empowering local residents to be involved in decision-making processes related to forest management. By understanding the SIGAP method, company staff can direct communities to become proactive partners in preserving forests, while improving their welfare.
Through SIGAP training, PT WBPU staff can be more effective in facilitating dialogue and collaboration with communities around the forest. SIGAP emphasizes the importance of a participatory approach, where local residents are involved in planning, implementing and evaluating projects related to forest management. This not only helps reduce social conflict, but also builds a sense of shared ownership of the success of forest conservation and natural resource management programs.
The introduction of the SIGAP method also helps companies achieve sustainability goals. With greater community involvement in preserving forests, production forest companies can reduce the risk of environmental degradation and ensure the long-term sustainability of their operations. In addition, by using the SIGAP method, companies can strengthen a positive image in the eyes of the public, showing that they are not only focused on profits, but also on the welfare of local communities and environmental sustainability.
