To overcome these constraints, the NRMP study (Curran and Kusneti 1992, Curran 1992) 

concluded that a major shift from post harvest treatments to pre harvest planning and improved 

harvesting techniques was required.  This shift of focus included longer term management and 

planning beyond annual work plans, improved infrastructure (e.g., road and bridge 

construction), 100% cruising tree identification, and detailed topographic maps to plan extraction 

and skidding and to lower the impact of harvest on the residual stand. 

The NRMP response to the planning process constraints was to promote  adaptive planning .  

Because of the issues identified in the HPH concessions survey, NRMP commissioned reviews 

of current planning procedures.  Three independent reviews were conducted over a three year 

period.  This approach for delivering technical assistance enabled officials and participating 

concession personnel to assess the conclusions and recommendations made during each 

assignment.   

The first review examined the structure and content of the concessions' Long Term Planning 

Guidelines (Rencana Karya Pengusahaan Hutan, RKPH), their procedures to collect technical 

and economic information, issues concerning the potential harvest of non wood products, and 

guidance for designing fire mitigation programs.  Amendments to the RKPH were also examined 

to allow more effective reporting and to link forest utilization planning to sustainable 

management criteria for forest concessions. 

The second review investigated the  Rolling Planning  Guidelines for Five Year Forest 

Concession Plans (Recana Karya Lima, RKL) and Annual Operating Plans (Rencana Karya 

Tahunan, RKT). With forestry officials, guidelines and plans included methods to evaluate 

alternative planning options and improve data accuracy.  Because of the recognized need to 

improve the field level application of these alternative techniques, the focus shifted to issues of 

implementation. 

The third review involved the Self Approval Process for the RKT, intended to develop a practical 

planning and management system proposed for  self approval  in pre selected concessionaires.  

NRMP established a working group or Task Force (Tim Kajian) to improve concession planning 

guidelines and to develop a practical self approval process (NRMP Report No. 34, Armitage and 

Bennett 1995).  

The process to address the issues raised in these three reviews resulted in increased 

participation within the forest planning community.  Studies of the RKPH, RKL and RKT 

Guidelines were discussed frequently with counterpart officials of the Directorate General for 

Forest Utilization (DJPH) in Jakarta and in the provincial forestry offices of the Kanwil 

Kehutanan  and Dinas Kehutanan in West and Central Kalimantan. Technical assistance and 

support provided by the MoFr in Jakarta and West Kalimantan were effective as they 

contributed to the conclusions reached in these reviews.  Assistance from the provincial forestry 

authorities in Central Kalimantan was limited.  Support and assistance provided by individual 

concessionaires and the Association of Forest Concession Holders was not only generous but 

essential for conducting the reviews.  Achievements, conclusions, and recommendations were 

presented at workshops in Jakarta and in West and Central Kalimantan. Overall, discussion was 

broadly based, frank and constructive. Although some issues remained unresolved, many 

recommendations did receive endorsement by the MoFr. To date, there have been no official  

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