Open Science Network in Ethnobiology

Mulawarman University with its core scientific specialization of "Rainforests and Environment" fully realizes its role in educational, research, and extension activities in a resource-rich province, East Kalimantan. Year by year, UNMUL continuously strives to enhance its role in developing human resources to support sustainable use and management of forest resources, as an integral part of provincial and national development programs, which all at once contribute to global human well being and healthy environment.

In realizing such concerns, besides establishing undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Forestry, UNMUL has founded the Tropical Rainforest Research Center and the Environment Research Center whose activities have been well known at the provincial, national and international levels. Since July 1, 1997, the Rectorate of UNMUL has broadened its concerns on the sustainable development of forest resources by establishing the Center for Social Forestry [CSF] [official Indonesian name is: UPT. Perhutanan Sosial, Universitas Mulawarman] through close collaboration with UCC International of The University College of the Cariboo [UCC], Canada, financially supported by the Canadian International Development Agency [CIDA].

The establishment of CSF is aimed at building capacity of UNMUL staff in curriculum development, research, training and extension activities in Social Forestry. This is a response to growing issues and demand for sustainable development of forest management systems to contribute to the welfare of forest dwellers and as well provide benefits for other forest stakeholders.

In line with the basic concept of social forestry developed in various countries and the goals of Indonesian forest development, CSF activities are directed to providing contribution to the development of social forestry as a wide range of systems for sustainable use and management of forest resources, based upon ecological principles, democratic partnership and mutual benefits for stakeholders concerned. For the new millenium, CSF has seen four main areas of concern:

1. Globalization and world free-market would stimulate more commercialization of forest products.
2. The exploitation of forest resources would increase significantly. Economic development, growing population and, in the case of East Kalimantan - the establishment of new administrative districts throughout the province - would put pressure on forest resources as well as stimulate a wide ranging conversion of forest areas for various purposes.
3. Number and size of forest areas would decrease significantly.
4. Stiff competition in the use of forest resources and forest areas would stimulate and intensify conflicts among forest stakeholders.

With such realities, there is need for a variety of strategies for sustainable use and management of forest resources, compatible to both general policies of forest development and local community wisdom and practical needs. Future expectations of CSF include the emergence of a wide range of systems of sustainable use and management of forest resources in various tropical rain forest areas. With such expectation in mind, CSF would generally strive to:

1. Provide education and training in Social Forestry to UNMUL faculty members and students, to the public and private sector organizations in order to gain basic skills and knowledge of Social Forestry and related disciplines.
2. Conduct research in Social Forestry to better understand issues related to the sustainability of forests and impact on communities.
3. Assist local communities to better manage their forests and forest resources for their own benefits and all at once benefits to other stakeholders.
4. Assist government, private companies, and other organizations to formulate policies and develop community programs that lead to effective management and sustainability of the forests and mutual benefits to all forest stakeholders.