Revitalizing Social Capital, Empowering Local Potentials: Reducing Poverty in Forest Area at Bali Province

Abstract

The economic crisis in Indonesia since 1997 increased the number of poor people from around 27 million before the crisis to almost 40 million recently. The majority of these poor people are living in the village, either in forest areas or coastal areas. Indonesia has witnessed some fundamental changes in politics, economy as well as social affairs. Unfortunately, with such limited resources, these changes are sometime painful making it more difficult for villagers to cope with. As a consequence, tensions are mounting and social capital is loosening. When this type of capital is lacking, it is difficult for rural people to develop their own resources and lift themselves from poverty.