Integrating bioenergy and food production on degraded landscapes in Indonesia for improved socioeconomic and environmental outcomes

Abstract

Growing bioenergy crops on degraded and underutilized land is a promising solution to meet the requirement for energy security, food security, and land restoration. This paper assesses the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of agroforestry systems based on nyamplung (tamanu) (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) in the Wonogiri district of Central Java, Indonesia. Data were collected through field observations and focus group discussions involving 20 farmers who intercrop nyamplung with maize, rice, and peanuts and utilize the species in honey production. Calculating each crop's net present value (NPV) demonstrates that when grown as monocultures, staple crops rice and peanuts lead to negative profitability, while maize generates only a marginal profit; yet honey production utilizing nyamplung produces a NPV nearly 300 times greater than maize. However, when utilizing nyamplung, honey is also the commodity most sensitive to decreases in production, followed by nyamplung–peanut and nyamplung–rice combinations. While decreases in production have little effect on the NPVs of rice, peanuts, and maize, these annual crops can only be cultivated for a maximum of 6 years within the nyamplung's 35‐year cycle, due to canopy closure after this time. Nyamplung‐based agroforestry systems can provide economic, social, and environmental gains on different scales. However, when considering the high profit potential of nyamplung combined with honey production, further research is needed to improve and develop bee husbandry practices so this becomes a viable option for local farmers.

Carbon Sequestration Potential of Agroforestry Systems in Degraded Landscapes in West Java, Indonesia

“…Local communities in the Indonesian archipelago possess the knowledge to use many traditional local tree garden-repong damar, simpukng and tembawang agroforestry systems as climate-smart farming, to manage ecosystems and restore degraded land [15]. Considering the high costs involved in land restoration (approximately 260 USD to 2880 USD ha −1 , depending on the restoration method used and the condition of land) and global concern for large-scale restoration [27,62,63], involving communities through their agroforestry practices can have low-cost potential (approximately $181 US to $402 US ha −1 , see also Rahman et al [21]). Carbon sequestration across agricultural landscapes is important to minimize net C emissions from agriculture and mitigate climate change [64].…”

“…Rich.) trees in degraded swidden areas in Jambi, Sumatra, and tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) trees on barren land in Wonogiri, Central Java [27,28]. Other studies provide evidence of agroforestry systems delivering carbon stock and sequestration [29,30].…”

Agroforestry Benefits and Challenges for Adoption in Europe and Beyond

“…AFS are not without challenges due to various reasons. If AFS need to be optimized for productivity [144], there is a need to balance the crop and tree population, spacing and cropped area in order to optimize the complementarity between the species. There is a need for on-farm demonstrations and robust field-based evidence of AFS in the relevant socioeconomic settings to match the local demand for produce with the supply from the AFS.…”

Bioenergy Production on Degraded Land: Landowner Perceptions in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…These results contribute to identifying key conditions for a bottom-up approach to bioenergy production from degraded land in Indonesia: a stable bioenergy market for landowners, application of familiar bioenergy species, and agricultural extension support for capacity building.is expected to be 1.8 times higher than the energy demand in 2015 [8] due to population growth, urbanization, and economic development [9][10][11].Lately, there has been increased interest in bioenergy production by growing non-food seed oil, such as nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum L.), in degraded lands since its multiple benefits [12] It could minimize a trade-off between food and fuel production as some of these non-food crops could grow in degraded lands that cannot support food production [13][14][15][16]. It could reduce environmental impacts if these crops are harvested from degraded and underutilized lands that have limited value to store carbon and preserve native vegetation and biodiversity (e.g., [9,15,17]). In addition, it could support restoration of degraded lands with these bioenergy species and provide a variety of ecosystem services, such as carbon storage, reduction of soil erosion, and improvement of biodiversity [18,19].…”

“…Lately, there has been increased interest in bioenergy production by growing non-food seed oil, such as nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum L.), in degraded lands since its multiple benefits [12] It could minimize a trade-off between food and fuel production as some of these non-food crops could grow in degraded lands that cannot support food production [13][14][15][16]. It could reduce environmental impacts if these crops are harvested from degraded and underutilized lands that have limited value to store carbon and preserve native vegetation and biodiversity (e.g., [9,15,17]). In addition, it could support restoration of degraded lands with these bioenergy species and provide a variety of ecosystem services, such as carbon storage, reduction of soil erosion, and improvement of biodiversity [18,19].…”