Wednesday, September 24, 2025, became a historic and honourable moment for KOBUMI. The Agroforestry Warehouse, a storage and management centre for commodities of indigenous and local communities in the Maluku Islands, received a direct visit from the Secretary General of the Ministry of Forestry, Mahfudz, M.P., along with the ministry officials. On this occasion, he also accompanied the ceremonial release of the first export of 15 tons of nutmeg to China.
The 15 tons of nutmeg being exported resulted from the work of the Customary Law Community of Negeri Hutumuri, the Village Forest Management Institution (LPHD) of Morella, and communities around Ambon Island. 165 local workers, including 61 women, were involved during the process. This clearly shows how sustainable management of non-timber forest products can bring inclusive and fair economic empowerment.
This nutmeg export was also accompanied by the release of damar, another non-timber forest product from Maluku’s Social Forest. The export release was attended by the Director of KOBUMI, Etik Mei Wati, the Maluku Regional Head of the Econusa Foundation, Gadri Ramadhan Attamimi, and witnessed directly by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Forestry, Mahfudz, M.P., together with the Governor of Maluku, Hendrik Lewerissa, S.H., LL.M. With a total value of both commodities reaching around USD 125,000, this event also demonstrated the great potential of Maluku’s forest products to provide economic and ecological benefits.
Governor of Maluku, Hendrik Lewerissa, in an interview, said:
“We will always support, encourage, and facilitate what we can do. For us, a strong export is important for economic growth, for creating jobs, and for reducing poverty. We thank the business actors who have succeeded in entering the international market. I believe our prospects are good, we just need to encourage nutmeg farmers to be enthusiastic in planting nutmeg, maintaining the trees, and ensuring proper post-harvest care.”
KOBUMI’s achievements highlight the success of strategic collaboration. The partnership among the government, the EcoNusa Foundation, KOBUMI, and indigenous and local communities demonstrates that sustainable forest management by indigenous communities can be both valuable and beneficial for people’s welfare.
From Maluku, spices once again sail to the world, a reminder that when forests are managed well, they preserve tradition and the environment and open the way to a more prosperous future for the communities.
Text: Dea Refika Nita| Photos: Ika
