The Potential of Forest Farmer Groups as a Basis for State Defence Cadres through Ecological Citizenship Education

Abstract

Forest Farmer Groups (Kelompok Tani Hutan/KTH) constitute community-based institutions engaged in learning, forest resource management, cooperation, and collective action. These characteristics provide an opportunity to develop a more adaptive and contextual approach to state defence through ecological citizenship education. This article aims to examine the potential of KTH as a community-based foundation for state defence cadres through ecological citizenship education. The study employs an Integrative Literature Review (ILR) supported by descriptive analysis of secondary data from the Forest Extension Management Information System (SIMLUH) of the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. The analysis integrates perspectives on collective action and self-governance, environmental citizenship, community-based forest management, and state defence awareness development. The findings indicate that KTH functions as a learning community in which forest management experiences can foster learning, participation, and collective action. SIMLUH data recording 27,720 KTH demonstrate the extensive institutional base that could support community-based educational initiatives. The literature synthesis further indicates that ecological citizenship education can serve as a bridge between forest management experiences and the internalization of state defence values through ecological knowledge, responsibility, participation, and collective action. This study proposes a conceptual model for developing KTH as an adaptive, contextual, and participatory foundation for state defence cadres, by integrating state defence values into forestry extension, community facilitation, conservation, forest management, and collective activities. As the proposed model remains conceptual, further empirical research is needed to examine its applicability and effectiveness across different KTH contexts.