West Manggarai Regent Regulation No. 12 of 2015 concerning the Integration of the Mbeliling Landscape Strategic Plan is the foundation for the stakeholders to establish policies and implement programs in the Mbeliling Landscape. This regulation has determined the management objectives of the Mbeliling Landscape which are described in principles and strategies, criteria and management indicators.
As an effort to realize productive and sustainable landscape management, Burung Indonesia encourages stakeholders to put forward three management principles, namely participatory, ecological sustainability, and sustainable livelihoods for local communities. A program entitled "Strengthening the Role of Non-Governmental Stakeholders in Forestry Governance" has been initiated. The pilot site will take place at the Mbeliling Landscape, West Manggarai Regency, Nusa Tenggara Timur.
In the program dissemination in Labuan Bajo on 22 September 2017, Asep Ayat, Forest Programme Coordinator of Burung Indonesia, explained that the program is designed to strengthen understanding and knowledge of forest governance, rules and enforcement, governance and trade, Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK) and policies to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, including strengthening independent monitoring networks and community groups at the site level.
oni Eko Rahayu explaining about SVLK on the event
According to Noni E. Rahayu, a staff of the Sub-directorate of Forest Product Certification and Marketing, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the SVLK is a representative approach, among others, to dealing with illegal logging and improving forest governance. This system is also useful for ensuring timber legality assurance and promoting sustainably sourced wood products. SVLK can also encourage the elimination of the stigma of Indonesia as a forest destroyer country and source of illegal timber.
Asep hopes that this program will contribute to the achievement of the Mbeliling Landscape management objectives as agreed by the stakeholders in West Manggarai Regency. “It is our obligation to disseminate this program and discuss in depth with the stakeholders regarding several substantial matters related to forest management in West Manggarai in general, or the management of the Mbeliling Landscape in specific,” said Asep.
The Birdlife International Global Partnership, funded by the European Union, will carry the 5-years (2017-2021) program with the involvement of five countries namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Burung Indonesia is the implementor of the program in Indonesia.