Case Study: Rumput Hijau Case

Rumput Hijau (RH) is an NGO that is engaged in the environment and community empowerment.

Recently RH received a project contract for community assistance in a village in East Kalimantan
from a large palm oil company with contract value of more than $1.000.000,- for 4 years. The main
objective of this project is to encourage the communities not to enter the conservation forest that
is belonging to the company and authorized by the government as part of the HCV area to meet
the sustainability standards of palm oil plantations. The residents are indigenous people who have
lived in the area for generations. Most community’s livelihoods are farming and relying on forest
products. Limited land forces people to enter the forest to collect wood, fruits, hunt, or look for
firewood. The conservation forest is located side by side with the village and often causes disputes
between the company and several parties in the communities. They consider the forest is belonging
to their ancestors and family, has provided them a livelihood for a long time.

Rumput Hijau is now preparing a communication plan as a supporting part of achieving the main
objectives of the project. Please provide your analysis regarding the existing problems and the
communication plan that need to be developed for this project

Existing Problems :

Urge residents not to enter the company’s forest concessions to get what’s in the forest.

1. Why do they always enter the forest even though they know that the area cannot be entered
carelessly? Hungry; Does not have any money to get anything from the market; Etc
2. Why don't people have money or work with a decent wage? Lack of Skill or knowledge or
education

What can $ 1000 do for residents without destroying the people's pride as having authority over
ancestral lands?

a. Mapping of commodities and resources that are owned and can be used
b. Mapping forest areas and providing knowledge of the trespassing law
c. Studying various kinds of food crop cultivation that can be carried out from the mapping
results
d. Conducting various workshops and seminars aimed at residents in order to prepare
themselves to become independent farmers / planters
e. This includes introducing residents to environmentally friendly natural agricultural practices
so that people do not depend on conventional markets or middlemen so that problems do
not arise that can make residents return to deadlock and run back to the forest.
f. Providing assistance for residents during the process until the residents are empowered and
able to be independent
g. Utilizing networks (local and central communities) for collaborations that can be carried out
to support the success of residents to become independent farmers / planters. For example,
utilizing farmer networks to distribute farm produce, or communities that focus on certain
agricultural / garden products for food security. Etc.
h. Introducing to other publics through digital or non-digital about the processes that occur
and ensuring public support through the hard work that has been done by residents. So that
citizens feel that what has been passed is something positive and deserves appreciation
from the media and the public.