environmental impact Archives - Resilient Landscapes (RL)

Impacts of industrial timber plantations in Indonesia: An analysis of rural populations’ perceptions in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Java

Industrial timber plantations are controversial in many parts of the world. Indonesia provides an interesting case study, with its history of conflicts over land use and current ambitions for plantation expansion.

This study investigated perceived impacts of plantations on nearby rural populations. A survey was conducted of 606 respondents across three islands (Java, Borneo and Sumatra), three tree species (acacia, teak and pine) and three end uses (pulpwood, timber production and resin production). In addition, a Q-method analysis was conducted at a site with an established pulpwood plantation in order to identify significantly diverse perceptions of the plantation among villagers. The methods were combined to arrive at a representative view of these perceptions and expectations.

Results illustrate a diversity of viewpoints among villagers, with perceptions varying from general dissatisfaction to enthusiasm. Perceptions of pine and teak plantations tend to differ from acacia pulpwood plantations. For pine and teak, respondents reported a higher number and greater variety of benefits and services, higher number of perceived positive impacts in general, a better environmental record, and more opportunities to use plantation land and products for rural livelihoods. These results contrast with the heavy focus around acacia plantations on economic development and infrastructure. Hence, acacia plantations enjoy some level of recognition for opening up remote areas and providing infrastructure and services that are traditionally the responsibility of the state. Data were disaggregated by gender to enable further analysis, and offer a general indication that plantation development has not affected women more negatively than men.

Our analysis leads to several clear directions for the improvement of plantation management. The role of the state must be clarified and potentially reinforced, except if the burden of development, including that of infrastructure, is to remain the responsibility of companies. Lessons can be drawn from the teak and pine cases in Java as to the performance of institutions that act as intermediaries between companies and people. Contributions by communities should be facilitated early in the planning stages, and this should apply in particular to land claims, to the organization of the labor force (including the privileged form of work contract), to the spatial distribution of the plantation in order to leave aside areas of local value, and to options for land sharing, as this is a major vehicle for fruitful coexistence.

Makueni County Environmental Action Plan 2025-2029

Natural resources and the environment are essential to Makueni County’s livelihoods, forming the backbone of agriculture, livestock, fisheries, tourism, and forestry. Most communities depend on land, water, and forests for sustenance, particularly through small-scale farming and pastoralism, making environmental health critical to economic stability. The Environmental Action Plan (CEAP 2025-2029) is anchored in global, national, and county frameworks, including Agenda 21, the Kenya Constitution 2010, EMCA 1999 (Revised 2015), the SDGs, Africa Agenda 2063, and Kenya’s Vision 2030. Kenya’s Constitution has devolved environmental planning to counties and established the right to a clean and healthy environment as a human right. Under EMCA, every County Environment Committee must prepare a five-year action plan for adoption and integration into the National Environment Action Plan (NEAP). The CEAP 2025-2029 serves as a strategic guide for planning, implementation, and monitoring, outlining challenges, resource status, and interventions to promote sustainable environmental management in Makueni County.

A women’s association in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo

In Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo, where over 80% of households rely on charcoal, unsustainable production is a major driver of forest degradation. This study examines how the women’s association AFEVADES, in collaboration with CFT sawmill and CIFOR-ICRAF, transformed wood residues into sustainable charcoal, focusing on gender dynamics and environmental impacts. Initially an informal survival strategy, the initiative evolved after AFEVADES officially registered in 2020, gaining access to carbonization training and microcredit. As a result, the group doubled production efficiency, reduced processing time, and secured a stable wood supply.
The project has strengthened women’s economic autonomy, with women leading 95% of operations, managing earnings, and supporting households through food, education, and home construction. Over four years, 2,638 m³ of wood residues were converted into 11,000 bags of charcoal, reducing forest pressure. While still modest in scale, this model highlights the potential of gender-inclusive, community-driven solutions in supporting livelihoods and forest sustainability, emphasizing the need for policy support and investment to expand sustainable practices.

Perceptions of local people toward pulpwood plantations: Insights from Q-method in Indonesia

Industrial timber plantations are controversial in many parts of the world including in Indonesia. Knowledge of their perceived impacts is important for better management and integration into the rural landscape. To advance knowledge on this topic, we applied the Q-method to a case study in East Kalimantan province, Indonesia, where a large-scale acacia plantation is established. Three groups emerge from the analysis with contrasting viewpoints: a first group exhibits enthusiasm over the development of the plantation, including recognition of environmental services provided; the two other groups express dissatisfaction, either generally on all aspects or with a focus on the plantation as obstacle to local development. Research has shown that the Q-method needs to be completed by other tools such as household surveys in order to make for its limitations, e.g. assessing representativeness of each group and determinants of inclusion in one given group.

COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity in South American countries

The COVID-19 pandemic had unprecedented political, economic, and social consequences, intensifying global food insecurity (FI). To assess its impact on different socio-economic groups, this study analyzed food insecurity prevalence and severity across 18,997 households in seven South American countries using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FAO). Findings indicate that before the pandemic, 4.5% of households experienced Moderate FI, while 0.6% faced Severe FI. During the pandemic, Moderate FI surged to 16.9% (+12.4%), and Severe FI rose to 2.7% (+2.1%). Venezuela had the highest pre-pandemic Moderate FI prevalence (9.7%), while Peru reported the most Severe FI cases (1.1%). Peru saw the largest increase in both Moderate FI (+23.9%) and Severe FI (+4.6%). Low-income households (earning <2 minimum wages per month) were most vulnerable. Uruguayan low-income families experienced the sharpest increase (+40.4%) in Moderate FI, while Peru’s low-income households saw Severe FI rise by +9.1%. This study highlights the profound and far-reaching effects of COVID-19 on food insecurity in South America, stressing the urgent need for effective public policy interventions to enhance resilience against future crises. Policymakers must develop targeted strategies to address immediate challenges and build a sustainable, resilient food security landscape for the region.

Modelling global change impacts on the soil enviroment

The following research protocol was developed as part of the global ASB (Alternatives to slash-and-burn) project, to allow comparison of data collected in Indonesia (Lampung,Jambi), Cameroon, Brazil and Peru. The data collected can be used: – directly to assess the current C stock in above – and below- ground pools; – to extrapolate to the ‘time-averaged C stock’ of a land-use system; – to initialise the CENTURY (or similar) simulation model for C, N and P dynamics of the various pools of organic matter; and/or – compare biodiversity and profitability assessments with C stock data to study trade-offs among global environmental benefits and private incentives to the farmer.

The effects of Indonesia’s decentralisation on forests and estate crops: case study of Riau province, the original districts of Kampar and Indragiri Hulu

This study focuses on the impacts of decentralisation on forests and estate crops in the original districts of Kampar and Indragiri Hulu, located in Riau Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. The research was conducted during 2000, preceding the beginnings of decentralisation in January 2001, with a brief follow-up to March of that year. It was important to chart attitudes to decentralisation at provincial level, as well as examine the deconcentration of the regional office of the Jakarta-based Ministry of Forestry and Estate Crops. The demands for fibre of the two immense pulp and paper companies (RAPP and Indah Kiat) was analysed on a province-wide basis. Both of the original districts were recently subdivided: Kampar became three, adding Rokan Hulu and Pelalawan, while Indragiri Hulu was halved to add Kuantan Singingi. The existence of these new entities, struggling to create separate infrastructure and administrations, has complicated the decentralisation process. Much of Indragiri Hulu is occupied by Bukit Tigapuluh National Park and its buffer zone, with many stakeholders and conflicts over illegal logging, while Kuantan Singingi has large areas under pulp plantations. Kampar and Rokan Hulu are dominated by oil palm, the plantations’ occupancy of the land being contested by local populations. Pelalawan still has natural timber, the swamp forests of the sparsely populated lower Kampar basin, but is also the headquarters of RAPP in the rapidly expanding centre of Pangkalan Kerinci. The study found that during 2000, the most serious impact on the forests was a result of political reformation and the economic crisis, with the Soeharto government’s rules being ignored and timber being cut for its quick return under conditions of high demand. Depressed rubber prices gave further impetus to forest clearing. After decentralisation, despite greatly increased available income in the districts, serious environmental and social problems remained to be tackled. While local pride was a positive outcome, signs of both xenophobia and a rush to develop at all costs were worrying aspects.

Fisheries in the West Coast of Aceh – In search of a balance development

The economic and social development of Aceh has been to a greater extent dependent on the coastal and marine resources of the province. Fish and fisheries is no exception – as they continue to play an important role in the lives of Acehnese. Economically, in 2003, fisheries contributed to almost 3 percent of Aceh’s GDP, while 16 percent of the coastal community depended on fisheries for livelihood and fish dietary consisted over 50 percent of their total animal protein intake (MMAF, 2006). It is highly likely, that the pre-tsunami heavy reliance on the coastal resources have led to over fishing and the practice of unsustainable fishing methods to harvest the declining resources (Pomeroy at.al, 2006). Hence, the current post tsunami fisheries rehabilitation efforts should not only focus on replacing the damaged or destroyed fishing equipment and facilities but in the longer term, must find a balance development between managing the coastal fisheries resources sustainably while ensuring the economic well-being of the fishing communities along the tsunami ravaged coast of Aceh. The WorldFish Center conducted a series of appraisals through two of the WorldFish led projects2, with the aim of assessing the status of existing and on-going post-tsunami fisheries rehabilitation efforts in the West Coast of Aceh. The West Coast was identified as the focal area owing to the severe destruction on its coastal resources caused by the tsunami. The goal was to identify if the development of the post tsunami fisheries sector meets the expectations of the people affected. Such development opportunities must be able to bring direct benefits to poor people, whose poverty and lack of power put them at a relative disadvantage when disaster strikes.This bulletin presents some of the main findings of the appraisals conducted in twelve coastal fishing villages on the west coast of Aceh. The appraisals were structured using a combination of focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Other form of data collection included reconnaissance surveys and in-depth literature reviews on the condition of the fisheries resources before tsunami. The fieldworkwas carried out between December 2005 and August 2006.

To control or not to control: how do we learn more about how agronomic innovations perform on farms?

Our paper ‘Loading the dice in favour of the farmer: reducing the risk of adopting agronomic innovations’ revealed mean increases but also large variation in the impact of four agroforestry practises on maize yield, as experienced by farmers in Malawi. This prompted a response from Sileshi and Akinnifesi that was critical of the data and methods used. Their main concern was that farmers did not necessarily manage crops identically in plots with and those without trees, so the yield differences that we measured may be partly caused by these differences in crop management. We argue here that it is valid and useful to look at the actual effect on crop yield of farmers having trees intercropped with maize, rather than controlling for how the crop is managed, because this is what happens in the real world. Farmers respond to having trees in their field by treating their crop differently, so this is part of the system response to having trees in fields. Attempts to eliminate this will result in measuring an artefact rather than the real impact of trees on crop yield. By doing this, we revealed important variation in the impact of trees on crop yield amongst farmers, and we argue that it is important to explore, assess and communicate to farmers and development actors the extent and implications of this variation. Understanding the contextual factors that determine who is likely to benefit most from an innovation and for whom it is less suitable can then be incorporated in scaling up, so that targeting of innovations and the appropriateness of messages given to farmers are continuously refined.

Assessment of C-stock and earthworm population for a forest-to-coffee conversion in Sumberjaya, West Lampung

The purpose of this poster is to asses above-ground C-stock and Earthworm pupulation density of Monocultural and multistrata coffee based system

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