We studied the long-term effects of an intensified fire regime following logging and altered land use practices on the biodiversity and successional dynamics of forests on three sites (Sugihan, Mesuji, and Pampangan) of roughly 300 km2 each, distributed across the continuous wetland ecosystem of southern Sumatra. Satellite image analysis and ecological and socio-economic surveys were combined to reveal the vegetation characteristics, and links to fire, land use history, and site conditions. Since the 1970s–1980s, this ecosystem has been subject to widespread repeated fires associated with or following intensive logging, transmigration, and plantation development, sonor or swamp rice cultivation, and other local resource use. Burn traces in the soil profile suggest that earlier fire episodes were far more limited in their coverage than the severe and frequent burning of the recent past. The result has been a rapid transformation from mature, high mixed species forests to sedge grasslands, savannas, and open to dense mono-specific stands of fast-growing fire-adapted species. Current vegetation types are largely differentiated by structural rather than compositional differences, which are significantly linked to fire frequency or time since last fire. The more frequent and recent the fires, the more open the landscape, with reduced density and basal area of trees. At present, the area is very species-poor. Most patches in Sugihan and Mesuji are dominated by a single species—Melaleuca cajuputi—in the tree, sapling, and seedling layers except for degraded mixed forests which have a mix of species in all layers. Degraded mixed forests were more recently logged and burnt just once in 1991. Pampangan has a different species composition with all patches dominated by Combretocarpus rotundatus in the tree layer, which is linked to greater organic matter depth. However, in the deep peats of Pampangan the sapling and seedling layers are also dominated by Melaleuca cajuputi in most patches suggesting a future shift in overstory composition to this more freshwater wetland-adapted species. This compositional shift is likely due to peast subsidence and increased likelihood of flooding following repeated burning. The live fuel structure with tall, dense lower strata to mid-strata of flammable herbaceous and woody species and scattered to dense tree cover renders all the vegetation types extremely fire-prone in dry years. The flammable vegetation combined with increased development and population pressures on these last frontiers makes contiued wides pread fires highly likely. This will lead to further simplification of species composition and structure, and degradation of the landscape into treeless plains. Resource depletion has led to falling incomes and fewer livelihood options in southern Sumatra. Fires and their negative impacts have expanded into the northern provinces of Sumatra as well with timber and oil palm plantation development and/or migrating populations in search of livelihood options. Given the large contribution of peatland fires to trans-boundary haze, carbon emissions, and global warming, reducing and controlling fires in the wetlands of Sumatra is of high priority. Fire management issues and options for the wetlands of southern Sumatra are discussed.
Tag: indonesia
Agroforestry in landscapes under pressure: Lampung research planning trip June 17-21, 1998
Most of ICRAF’s research in Indonesia has focused on Sumatra so far, with additional efforts in Kalimantan and occasional involvement elsewhere. Within Sumtra work has concentrated on Jambi province (central Sumatra) and Lampung (the southernmost province of the island). The main objective of the study trip to Lampung 17-21 June 1998 is to strengthen the linkages between research sites in Lampung and to take further steps, in cooperation with Indonesian partner institutions, in developing a landscape-ecological context for our on profitability and environmental effects of land use(including agroforestry).
A Profitability assessment of robusta coffee systems in Sumberjaya watershed, Lampung, Sumatra Indonesia
Forest encroachment for coffee farming practices in Sumberjaya, Lampung province, Sumatra, Indonesia, has created serious problems in controlling state forestland in the province. Conflict of interest regarding land status and land uses has created multi-dimensional problems in controlling the utilization of state forestland. Efforts to rehabilitate state forestland that have been used for agriculture purposes (coffee) and settlements, not only hard to meet its objectives, but also create another problem. Conflicts between government apparatus (forestry officer) and the dwellers living within state forestlands in Sumberjaya area are among the problems. Yet, the existence of administratively recognized villages within protection forest, have brought the problems beyond the domain of Forest and Estate Ministry. There are also other ecological issues such as biodiversity losses, soil erosion etc., which are filling list of debatable environmental issues. The increasing rate of forest conversion for coffee farming in Sumberjaya area since early 1980’s, however, indicates that coffee farming in this area is attractive for farmers to cultivate. Profitability assessment of coffee farming systems as a mean to understand the attractiveness of such system practiced by farmers in Sumberjaya gives a hint that coffee systems under study provide high return to land and higher return to labor than the average agricultural wage rate in Sumatra. The return of coffee system enjoyed by coffee growers in Sumberjaya constitutes pull factor to other farmers and transmigrants living in the neighboring area, particularly within peneplain zone in North Lampung and other similar area that relies on dry-land food crop farming. Without any consistent policy implementation to protect state forestland, especially the intact primary forest, forest encroachment for coffee cultivation could not be restrained.
Assesing conservation value of rubber agroforest in the Sumatra lowlands: a landscape level assessment of plant diversity
In order to make robust predictions about biodiversity levels at landscape scale there is a need to shift attention from simple species count to ecological processes. In this project which focuses on tree species, plant community data will be assessed both in terms of species composition and functional group composition
National strategy for Agroforestry research in Indonesia 2013-2030
Agroforestry has been widely practiced by Indonesian community since centuries ago. Nevertheless intensive research in agroforestry was only started in the last three decades. It can be understood if agroforestry has not yet been adopted in mainstreaming forestry and agriculture development in Indonesia. This paper aims to report the National Strategy on Agroforestry Research in Indonesia for the next two decades. The strategy was prepared by the team of authors following several phases, which include: a) review of research status of agroforestry, b) focus group discussions to involve team of experts and related stakeholders in formulating research topic priorities and implementation strategies; c) dissemination of the strategy concept to wider stakeholders to obtain feedbacks, and d) launching of the national strategy in front of wide stakeholders that include representatives from research institutes, universities, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other related parties. The National Strategy of Agroforestry Research is proposing four priority research topics that will be the major research agenda in the field of agroforestry in Indonesia over the next two decades. These four priority topics are: 1) Smallholder production systems and markets of agroforestry practices; 2) Community based forest management on state forest areas; 3) Harmonization of agroforestry practices with global climate change, and 4) Enhancing agroforestry practices for environmental services. In addition to these priority research topics, the national strategy also describes the implementation strategy of the mentioned priority research topics
Are Village Forest licences for rural development or conservation? A case study from Jambi Province, Indonesia
The Government of Indonesia has initiated a forest and agrarian reform process aiming to bring at least 30% of state forests under Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) schemes (10 million ha in 2015, 40 million ha to 2019). Additional elements of this reform process include the restitution of use rights in indigenous territories and resolution of conflict over forest land.Jambi has been seen as a successful province in terms of CBFM development. One of the schemes promoted is called Village Forest (Hutan Desa). A local conservation and development NGO based in Jambi, has supported local governments to extend the Village Forest scheme. It has been recognized as a mechanism to resolve land disputes and for communities to be ready for REDD+. It has also been expected to help increase forest sustainability and improve community welfare.Governmental Regulation PP.49/Menhut-II/2008 sets the legal foundation for the establishment of a Village Forest. The objective is the welfare and development of village communities. The official body supervising the application process is the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, which receives formal proposals from the head of a district that have been drafted by an applicant village.Village Forest areas are state forests managed by a village institution through a management licence for a period of 35 years. The licence is allocated based on the administrative area of the village and can be granted over areas categorized as either ‘protection’ or ‘production’ state forests. In protection forest areas, permitted activities are limited to reforestation, harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), eco-tourism and protection efforts through REDD+ and rewards for environmental services’ schemes. Inproduction forests, the village community, besides collecting NTFPs, can harvest 50 m3 of timber per year for village use. A village that is granted the licence (Surat Keputusan) is required to establish a committee (Lembaga Pengelola Hutan Desa/LPHD) to manage it. The committee is also responsible for submitting detailed annual (RTHD) and long-term (RKHD) work plans.At the time of writing, more than 30 villages have been granted Village Forest licenses in Jambi Province. However, little research has been done into how villages manage after receiving a licence. This brief analyses the challenges and threats posed by the licence in three villages in Jambi.
As clear as mud: understanding the root of conflicts and problems in Indonesia’s land tenure policy
The Ministry of Forestry (MoF) has designated 120 million ha of forest as state forest (kawasan hutan), corresponding to 62% of the total land surface of Indonesia. The MoF has legal authority to plan and regulate all forest tenure and to use its arrangement in its jurisdiction. Meanwhile, the MoF jurisdiction to designate the state forest plays its part to the confusion paradigm between state rights and customary (adat) rights on controlling forestland. The confusion derived from different perceptions about customary forest from different laws, Basic Forestry Law 1999 (BFL 1999) and Basic Agrarian Law (BAL 1960). The BFL 1999 categorized customary forest as state forest, that is state forest of which the management is delegated to customary communities. Meanwhile, the Basic Agrarian Law 1960 (BAL 1960) provide more recognition by separating the customary rights from the state, equally to other four legal rights such as the right to own (hak milik), the right to cultivate state land (hak guna usaha), the right to build and own building (hak guna bangunan), and the right to use or collect products from state or private land for a certain period (hak pakai). The government unwillingly to solve this confusion as the MoF has the justification to control all the forestland based on ecology reason such as hydrology, biodiversity and nowadays climate change. The paper argues that these ecology reasons become the foundation for the MoF to designate and control the state forest and help the environmentalis t interests to preserve threatened resources and habitats, supporting the MoF’s legitimacy to control all forest land, but contributing to the disenfranchisement of customary people to resource claims, the people’s poverty and the confusion of customary forest recognition. The more confusing, the more legitimating for the MoF.