Kayu Bunga

Kayu Bunga Block is a multi-functional forest landscape comprising Protected Forest, Limited Production Forest, Production Forest, and Other Land Use Areas (APL). Located in Kayu Bunga Village, the block covers approximately 8,586 hectares and lies within the upper Belimbing Sub-Watershed of Melawi Regency. The Kayu Bunga Block holds high ecological value as a natural habitat of the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) and forms part of a critical orangutan corridor connecting movement routes toward the Gunung Naning – Lubuk Lintang – Gunung Burung Protected Forest complex. The area is also home to the Dayak Kebahan sub-ethnic community, whose livelihoods and cultural identity are closely linked to the surrounding forest and natural resources. Beyond its biodiversity importance, the Kayu Bunga Block functions as a key water catchment area that supports local communities by providing water for domestic use, including drinking, bathing, and washing. This essential ecosystem service positions the area as part of West Kalimantan Province’s strategic environmental zones, designated to maintain ecosystem functions and environmental carrying capacity under the Provincial Spatial Plan (RTRW). The significance of the Kayu Bunga Block is further strengthened through community-based forest management initiatives. Local conservation efforts such as ICCA Toli Menua Selatan have been recognized as customary use areas, while ICCA Laman Kepayang is envisioned as a community-managed conservation area. These initiatives promote a balanced approach between forest conservation and sustainable livelihoods, including the application of agroforestry-based restoration to recover forest cover while improving community welfare. Supported by national and sub-national policies, the Kayu Bunga Block is included in the National Forest and Land Rehabilitation Master Plan of the Ministry of Forestry and designated under the National Forestry Plan as a priority area for forest rehabilitation and natural forest protection. In addition, the area is incorporated into Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink operational plan, particularly Action No. 7 on sustainable forest management and Action No. 11 on the protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas. Kayu Bunga Block is more than a forest landscape— it is a source of water, a refuge for orangutans, and a foundation of hope for future generations