Agroforestry on the interface of Orangutan conservation and sustainable livelihoods in Batang Toru (North Sumatra) ICRAF Working paper no. 56

Abstract

The Batang Toru area in North Sumatra supports the largest population of Sumatran Orangutan outside of formal conservation areas, as well as, a large human population. ICRAF and Winrock International analyzed the rich agroforestry livelihood systems of the area to: strengthen local support for conservation-based income alternatives to destructive forest practices; and catalyze local entrepreneurs to create sustainable economic alternative activities. The ICRAF-Winrock team conducted socioeconomic, land tenure assessment, spatial analysis, macroeconomic, and market studies to identify key threats, opportunities and the communities best positioned and most interested to collaborate in the effort. The Conservation and Livelihood Index was developed as a spatial analysis tool for landuse based negotiations between stakeholders. Five focal communities were selected and priority agroforestry crops identified as rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), cacao (Theobroma cacao), sugar palm (Arenga pinnata), durian (Durio zibethinus) and fruit and vegetable tree-products. The Team worked with participating farmer groups in each focal community to develop community priorities, enhance agroforestry skills, strengthen conservation awareness, and develop market understanding and linkages. An agroforestry extension approach evolved that held biweekly meetings with focal communities and utilized international, national, and local (farmer) technical and private sector specialists. Achievements include: over 1300 farmers trained at 13 events, rubber and cacao production increased by 10-15%, 6 new farmer enterprises developed to increase household incomes, and 5 communities developed livelihood-conservation strategies. Key lessons learned include: traditional agroforestry livelihood systems are compatible with orangutan habitat conservation; ignoring valid land claims, particularly from conservation-minded communities, risks an escalation of tension and possible conflict that may make conservation efforts counter-productive; and conservation-livelihood strategy agreements are a valuable tool to achieve both community livelihood objectives and public conservation goals.

Вирощування Садивного Матеріалу У Лісових Розсадниках Волинської Області

“…Розсадники дерев є важливим фактором успіху в багатьох втручаннях у розвиток лісового та сільського господарства [14].…”

Trees, tree genetic diversity and the livelihoods of rural communities in the tropics

“…As production of the above tree commodity crops constitutes the most significant proportion of farm takings for tens of millions of tropical smallholders, investments in genetic improvement and better farm management of these crops have wide benefits (Mohan Jain and Priyadarshan, 2009). The successful promotion of higheryielding rubber clones and better managing plants to reduce input costs and retain some biodiversity in rubber agroforests have led to greater profits for many Indonesian smallholders (Wulan et al, 2006;Roshetko et al, 2007b). The rising price of cocoa in world markets has led to increased interest in upgrading smallholders' cocoa production methods in Indonesia, Côte d'Ivoire and elsewhere, through private-public partnerships involving the chocolate industry.…”

“…Widening oil palm cultivation is an example where a commodity crop causes both the loss of forest and of agrobiodiversity (Donald, 2004;Danielsen et al, 2009). Rubber agroforestry systems are compatible with habitat and biodiversity conservation (Wibawa et al, 2005;Beukema et al, 2007;Roshetko et al, 2007b), but they are, unfortunately, often a transient land use under pressure for conversion to less diverse agricultural systems (Ekadinata and Vincent, 2011). It has sometimes been suggested that intensive monocultures are on balance better than mixed production systems because they raise yields and hence reduce the amount of farmland needed for production, thus limiting the need to clear natural habitats for more agriculture.…”

Non-timber forest products as a source of livelihood diversification for local communities in the Batang Toru Orangutan conservation program ICRAF Working paper no. 118

“…Since 1936, only half of the Batang Toru watershed has been gazetted as state forest land (Figure 4 Current efforts to enhance orangutan conservation in the area need to consider the perspectives of the local stakeholders who are the de facto managers and protectors of the Batang Toru forested area. By ignoring valid local claims, particularly from communities who respect conservation, forestry authorities risk an escalation of tension and possible conflict that may make non-participatory, non-transparent conservation efforts counter-productive (Roshetko et al 2007b).…”