Food Crop Land Allocation: Integrating Land Suitability Analysis and Spatial Forestry, Study Case Katingan, Indonesia

The Indonesian government strives to expand agricultural lands, primarily beyond Java, through food estate programs. However, there has been a strong likelihood that this endeavor might intersect with forests and forest designation areas. This study aims to determine land suitability and its potential allocation for food crops at the interface of forestry and agriculture in Katingan District. Paddy (Oryza sativa L) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L) were selected as the crop species being analyzed, employing a coupling of the analytical hierarchy process and GIS. Forest area designation and land cover maps were incorporated into land allocation scenarios. The results showed that there were 74.254 ha in the "highly suitable" (S1) class and 130.634 ha in the "moderately suitable" (S2) class for paddy. However, after applying the scenario, they decreased by 4% and 12%, respectively. Sorghum has S1 and S2 areas of 108.956 ha and 377.493 ha, which declined by 15% and 14%, respectively, after scenario. Based on the allocation scenario, we found potential deforestation of 67 thousand ha for paddy and 205 thousand ha for sorghum, respectively. We highlighted convertible production forests (HPK) and production forests (HP) as having considerable potential for the allocation of land for food production

The Influence of Land Management on Soil Mite (Acari: Oribatida, Prostigmata, and Mesostigmata) Communities as Bioindicators for Environmental Conditions

As a soil-living organism, soil mite presence is important for ensuring the sustainable land. Intensive management practices in forest land drive a change in its community structure. A field study was conducted in Wanagama Education and Research Forest I, Gunungkidul District, Yogyakarta Special Region Province, Indonesia, to assess the role and impact of the different forest management practices on the soil mite community. Soil samples from 15 representative soil sites were taken from the agroforestry, mixed-forest, and pioneer community forest. Collected individuals from August to October 2021 were taken by Berlese-Tullgenn Funnel and identified to morphospecies level. A total of 758 individuals of soil mites were recorded during the study period. Out of these, 21 individuals from agroforestry, 288 individuals from mixed-forest, and 449 individuals from pioneer community forest. Results of the study revealed the occurrence of 3 taxa from 36 morphospecies of oribatid mites occurred in the areas. The Shannon diversity indices of oribatid mites were 1.831, 1.424, and 0.867 in mixed-forest, agroforestry, and pioneer community, respectively. The similarity indices showed there was a similar diversity in agroforestry and mixed-forest, either in pioneer community. Through one-way ANOVA analysis, we stated that differences between of three management practices significantly affected soil mites, especially oribatida rather than prostigmata and mesostigmata

Application of Conventional and Improved Techniques in Felling and Skidding to Residual Stand Damages

Felling and skidding are essential in the timber extraction process. But on the other hand, residual stand damage can’t be avoided. This study aimed to analyze the impact of conventional and improved felling and skidding techniques on residual stands in natural forests. Three observation plots were developed to identify the types, numbers, and criteria of residual stand damage due to both techniques. The criteria were categorized as a) minor damage (<25%), b) moderate damage (25–50%), and c) major damage (>50%). It showed that the conventional felling and skidding technique caused damages of 14.92% dominated by tree crown damage and 16.70% dominated by stem wounds, respectively. The residual stand damage due to conventional felling and skidding technique was 31.62% categorized as medium damage. Meanwhile, improved felling and skidding techniques caused damage of 9.89% dominated by broken trees, and 10.27% dominated by stem wounds, respectively. The residual stand damage due to improved felling and skidding technique was 20.16% categorized as minor damage. The improvement techniques can minimize residual stand damage by 36.24%. Therefore, a good understanding of forest concessionaires regarding RIL principles is necessary for achieving sustainable timber harvestin

Ecological Analysis of Community and Private Partnership in Tree Planting Program to Rehabilitate Degraded Lands: A Case Study in East Java, Indonesia

Community and private partnership (CPP) in tree planting initiative is potential to accelerate rehabilitation of degraded lands. Yet, empirical studies to analyse such programs are limited. Here, we analysed a CPP tree planting program in East Java, Indonesia by focusing on ecological aspects, i.e. vegetation cover changes, floristic diversity, above-ground carbon storage, and soil and microclimate conditions. Results showed that there was a striking increase in vegetation cover, yielding  a total carbon sequestration of 3,853 tons, or equivalent to the reduction of 14,140 tons of CO2 emissions. On the other hand, co-benefits in term of floristic diversity at a landscape scale was low, and soil and micro-climate conditions were still marginal. This study provided empirical evidence that collaboration between communities and private entities in tree planting program can be effective in rehabilitation of degraded lands. Improvement in land management systems applied in tree planting through the implementation of mixed gardens or complex agroforestry is suggested if aiming for co-benefits in floristic diversity and soil properties. Our study recommends a broader adoption of a similar scheme in rehabilitation of degraded lands across Indonesia

Stakeholder Salience in a Multistakeholder Initiative of the National Forestry Council of Indonesia

This study analyzes the roles and positions of stakeholders in decision-making processes within the National Forestry Council (Dewan Kehutanan Nasional, DKN), a forest-related multistakeholder platform in Indonesia. It considers stakeholders’ power, legitimacy, and urgency. The research employed a qualitative case study, centered around in-depth interviews with 27 key informants with diverse backgrounds involved in the DKN. The study found that despite being designed to facilitate democratic and inclusive decision-making, the engagement of stakeholders in the DKN is heavily dominated by powerful government actors. Several stakeholder groups, such as NGOs and academics, may actively participate in decision-making processes, but they do not meaningfully influence and capacity to determine the organizational policy directions. This is related to an imbalance in the distribution of power among stakeholders in DKN. Even though this organization promotes the principle of inclusivity, the reality is that the presence and influence of the government are still the dominant factors in determining policy directions. This study confirms the importance of the stakeholder salience analysis approach in the context of multistakeholder initiative organizations such as the DKN, which allows recognition of power dynamics and domination among stakeholders within the DKN so that decisions made truly reflect the common interests of all parties involved

Front Matter

https://doi.org/10.7226/jtfm.29.1.f

Back Matter

https://doi.org/10.7226/jtfm.29.1.b

The Role of Stakeholders in the Management of Jurang Jero Nature Tourism Object in Mount Merapi National Park, Central Java, Indonesia

National parks, as an ecosystem protection function, are also encouraged to support local economic development. Meanwhile, community-based tourism (CBT) in the utilization zone is identified as a viable strategy to improve livelihoods for local communities and support the conservation of the national park. This research aimed to identify stakeholders and their roles in the management of the Jurang Jero Nature Tourism Object (JJNTO) in Mount Merapi National Park (MMNP). There were 16 existing stakeholders, including government officials, community members, and the private sector, from the two villages adjacent to JJNTO, who were interviewed using an open-ended interview guide. The data were analyzed using social network analysis (SNA) with the software NodeXL Basic, followed by network visualization with Kumu.io software. The results showed that the strength and closeness of the relationship among all stakeholders were at a moderate level, approaching 57% of network density. Centrality analyses identified the Head of Jurang Jero Tourism Group, the Head of Randu Ijo Forest Farmer Group, and the Head of Srumbung Resort as the three most important stakeholders. Therefore, the role of all stakeholders still needs to be improved to support the management of CBT and MMNP conservation efforts, specifically from the private sector, the environment, and tourism agencies, by improving communication and joint commitments to create cooperation and partnerships

Harvesting Systems of Private Forests in Indonesia: A Review

Private forests are spread over almost all the islands of Indonesia. Private forest harvesting has an important and strategic role in improving the welfare of the Indonesian people, especially in rural areas. Therefore, this research presents a review of harvesting systems used in private forests in Indonesia. This research uses literature searching and a statistical database. The basic criteria for selecting a harvesting system of private forest are a timber sales system, low equipment capital costs, and labor-intensive as well as adaptivity to local wisdom. Harvesting of private forests is mainly carried out by small-scale contractors Forest harvesting systems are partly mechanized and non-mechanized. Chainsaw was the cutting tool used for felling, debranching, and bucking. The most commonly used forest harvesting systems are manual and those involving modified motorbikes. Another less common system is conducted with animals, winches, and simple skyline systems. Loggers in private forests are self-taught workers and have not received special training in harvesting techniques, log bucking and wood extraction, and chainsaw maintenance. Improvement of wood extraction techniques is urgently needed, especially in aspects of the operating system, occupational health, and safety in forest harvesting with modified motorbikes, winches, and simple skyline systems. &nbsp

Non-Timber Forest Products in Cat Tien: Local Use and Sustainable Management

Rural ethnic minority groups in Cat Tien National Park (CTNP) have relied heavily on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and threatened its natural forest environment. Still, the real context of the NTFP consumption between indigenous peoples (IPs) and migrant ethnic minority group (MEs) has been poorly comprehended. Also, the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and the “walk-in-the-wood” method were applied to analyse the NTFP consumption between these IPs and these MEs. The study results indicated that the two local groups had a high or a relatively high dependence on the NTFPs and there was a shifting trend from subsistence to cash income (p-value = 0.000 < 0.05). Also, these IPs had a better knowledge about edible forest plants than these MEs, whilst various more MEs consumed forest fauna for medicinal demand. These MEs harvested and consumed those NTFPs more intensively, but these IPs did the resources for more self-consumption related to the indigenous traditions. Based on the local context, NTFP use patterns, cultural dissimilarity, and local capacity empowerment remain needed in park administration strategies. Similarly, culture-based arrangements would contribute to positive outcomes and sustainable management of the park. &nbsp