At a small mill on the edge of Gunung Kidul’s limestone hills, men are slicing freshly cut teak logs—each tagged with chalk markings—into even planks. It is a quiet symbol of how community forestry in Indonesia and the region is changing.

“We help farmers get better prices for their timber by improving efficiency. When production costs drop, their income increases,” says Puji Raharjo, the cooperative manager of Wana Manunggal Lestari (KWML).

Across ASEAN, similar enterprises are emerging under the Social Forestry models—linking communities, forests, and markets in ways that sustain both people and nature. Formerly isolated smallholders are now increasingly getting organized as producers supporting livelihoods and climate and forest resilience.

In Yogyakarta’s uplands, cooperatives like Raharjo’s guide farmers on everything from felling techniques to record-keeping. “We help them plan which trees to cut and when,” he explains. “Even how the wood is sawn can change its value.”

Certification has been central to this progress. “We meet the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council,” Raharjo says. “That means replanting after harvest and avoiding hazardous materials.”

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“It’s how we make sure something stands for our children,” says Suparijem at nearby Menur Forest Farmers Group, which follows the same approach.  The new system, which includes precise measurement of trunk diameter and height, has ended the guesswork that once shaped local timber prices.

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The cooperative model has also become a platform for teaching younger villagers. “When the youth see real returns, they start believing forestry has a future,” Suparijem adds.

However, Surati, from the Sedyo Makmur Community Forest, mentions that regeneration is still a challenge. “Young people want quick income while forestry takes time,” she says. “But if they can see that timber gives long-term stability, they’ll join.”

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