Natural resource-based social conflict and principles of sustainable landscape approach: case study of kelola sendang project, South Sumatera, Indonesia

Abstract

Natural resource-based social conflicts tend to be more frequent lately, including in the Kelola Sendang project area. The Kelola Sendang Project (KS) is an effort to manage natural resources that guarantee its sustainability on the one hand, and ensure the welfare of its people fairly on the other. This KS project covers a vast area of 1.6 million ha and involve various stakeholders with different interests. The area is also contain a huge potency of social conflicts, both latent and manifest. Therefore, it is important to study the social conflicts in the Kelola Sendang area. This research use a qualitative approach. This study shows that resource-based conflicts in the project area are taken place between villagers, between villagers and corporation, as well as between villagers and government. The social conflicts are managed among others by implementing participatory mapping, social forestry, as well as inclusive and partnership with local community. Moreover, the study found 6 principles in sustainable landscape approach in KS. These six principles are: 1). clearly defined geographical boundary, 2). collaboration of all relevant actors, 3). existence of an “umbrella coordinating body”, 4). mutual benefits and inclusive, 5). complexity, and 6). political support. This principles can also be regarded as a mechanism of conflict management.