KPH Kendal has been chosen as a study site of community forest
management practices under the community collaborative forest
management program developed by Perum Perhutani, called PHBM
program (Pengelolaan Hutan Bersama Masyarakat). Most households
live near forest areas in which community members are
allowed to voluntarily participate in the PHBM program. Because
participation is entirely voluntary, the levels of community
participation are different depending on household characteristics.
Most participants in the PHBM program are farmers with limited
land holdings, and, thus, tend to be motivated to hold more land
and increase their earnings from cultivation. Some non-farmers are
also interested in participation because they pay significant attention
to forest sustainability. They believe that forest degradation
will cause significantly negative externalities on the environment
and on their daily life through flooding and the decline of ground
water levels