Penyuguk

Penyuguk Block is a strategically important protected forest area located in Penyuguk Village, along the administrative boundary between West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan Provinces, within the upper catchment of the Ella Sub-Watershed (Sub-DAS) in Melawi District. The area functions as a critical ecological buffer that sustains the integrity and resilience of the Kalimantan forest landscape. In addition to serving as a natural habitat for the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii), the Penyuguk Block plays a vital role as an ecological corridor, facilitating orangutan movement toward Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park. The area is also home to the Dayak Pangin sub-ethnic community, whose livelihoods and cultural identity are closely intertwined with the surrounding forests and natural resources. Beyond its biodiversity value, the Penyuguk Block serves as a key water catchment area. Its freshwater resources support local communities by providing water for domestic use, including drinking, bathing, and washing, and by supplying renewable energy through a Micro-Hydropower Plant (MHP). This essential function positions the Penyuguk Block as part of Melawi District’s strategic environmental area, designated to maintain ecosystem services and environmental carrying capacity, as stipulated in the Melawi District Spatial Plan (RTRW). The ecological significance of the Penyuguk Block is further strengthened by community-based forest management. Local conservation initiatives, including ICCA Olla Lalang’k, have been formally recognized as customary use areas, while ICCA Penyuguk Kanan–Olla Buluh is envisioned as a community-managed conservation area that promotes harmony between biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Through an agroforestry-based landscape restoration approach, these initiatives aim not only to restore forest cover but also to enhance community welfare. Supported by national and sub-national policies, the Penyuguk Block is included in the National Forest and Land Rehabilitation Master Plan of the Ministry of Forestry. Furthermore, it has been designated under the National Forestry Plan as a priority area for forest rehabilitation and natural forest protection, positioning the Penyuguk Block as a strategic investment in the future of forest conservation and ecosystem restoration in Indonesia. The Penyuguk Block is more than a protected forest— it is a source of water, a refuge for orangutans, and a foundation of hope for future generations.