Expansion of traditional land-use and deforestation: a case study of an adat forest in the Kandilo Subwatershed, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

Deforestation issues are more problematic when indigenous (adat) communities, living within a forest, have lived there for many generations. These adat communities, who employ traditional land-use, are frequently accused of encroaching on the forest. To understand existing and future trends in the spatial patterns of the expansion of traditional land-use and deforestation, we conducted a case study in the Kandilo Subwatershed using mixed methods with image interpretation, spatial modelling and sociocultural surveys to examine the interrelationships between physical conditions, community characteristics and traditional land-use expansion. We investigated community characteristics through household interviews, communication with key informants, and discussions with focus groups. By using an area production model, we were able to analyze the effect of improved farming systems, policy intervention and law enforcement on traditional land-use expansion and deforestation. Based on our examination of a 20-year period of traditional land-use activities in adat forests, the evidence indicated that the steeper the slope of the land and the farther the distance from the village, the lower the rate of deforestation. Our study found that customary law, regulating traditional land-use, played an important role in controlling deforestation and land degradation. We conclude that the integration of land allocation, improved farming practices and enforcement of customary law are effective measures to improve traditional land productivity while avoiding deforestation and land degradation.

Forest Management Based on Local Culture of Dayak Kotabaru in the Perspective of Customary Law for a Sustainable Future and Prosperity of the Local Community

“…This study also found that customary law, regulating traditional land-use, played an essential role in controlling deforestation and land degradation (see Figure 1). We conclude that the integration of land allocation, improved farming practices, and enforcement of customary law are effective measures to enhance traditional land productivity while avoiding deforestation and land degradation [7]. Concerning the effectiveness of forest resources protection managed by indigenous peoples, we used the World Resource Institute study to compare the efficacy of using customary law in forest management in Bolivia, Brazil, and Columbia.…”

Perception, attitude, and motive of local community towards forest conversion to plantation in Dharmasraya District, West Sumatra, Indonesia

“…Indonesia's rate of deforestation reached 1.3 million per year between 2000 and 2012 (Wegscheider et al 2018). The primary factor causing forest deforestation includes the expansion of small-scale agriculture (Mutolib et al 2017;Austin et al 2019), oil palm plantation (Eldeeb et al 2015, Vijay et al 2016), illegal logging (Khalid et al 2019), corruption (Eldeeb 2015;Pachmann 2018), granting of forest concession (Santika et al 2017;Chen 2019), and human settlement (Nugroho et al 2018;Husodo et al 2019).…”

Engaging with ADAT people in sustainable forest management

“…The other problem is the shift in farming patterns. From our observations, we found that the need for cash has changed the villagers' behavior (Nugroho et al, 2017) . Many farmers have started to cultivate rubber or oil palm crops mixed with upland rice.…”

“…From ADAT land-use expansion patterns from 1992 to 2012, we found that the need for cash has changed the behavior of villagers towards nature, including that of the ADAT people. Following road construction and a boom in industrial tree production (rubber and oil palm) in the early 2000s, there was a change in the social conditions of the community around MLPF Nugroho et al, 2017;Wahyuni, 2011). Farmers in Rantau Layung as well as Muluy started to cultivate industrial crops.…”

“…Under these conditions, we assume the information would be objective in accordance with existing conditions. However, achieving accurate socio-cultural data based on direct interviews was challenging since some respondents refrained from openly discussing their 'considered-illegal' forest-based activities (Nugroho et al, 2017). To minimize misinformation and to anticipate some inconsistent responses, especially with regard to farming systems, forest-based income generation, implementation of customary law, and the extent and location of traditional land use, we conducted a series of periodic field visits from 2009 to 2013.…”