IDENTIFICATION AND COMPOSITION OF FEEDING PLANTSPECIES OF SIMAKOBU MONKEYS (Simias concolor) IN NORTHERN SIBERUT, MENTAWAI ARCHIPELAGO

The availability of food resources is one of habitat components that support simakobu conservation. This study was aimed to identify the species and composition of feeding plants and habitat structures of simakobu. Habituation of simakobu was conducted in prior to the study. Afterwards it was performed to collect the data on species and composition of feeding plants of simakobu using ad libitum methods. Determination of the structure and composition of vegetation on simakobu habitat, vegetation analysis was done by establishing plot measuring all long 100 m for 15 plots. Result showed that amount of 116 plant species was eaten by simakobu. Katatairek (Bhesa paniculata), logauna (Knema sumatrana) and ungla (Aporosa symplocoides) were species that its parts were most widely used as food source of simakobu. Young leaves, leaf bud, fl ower and fruit parts of those speciesare eaten by simakobu. This study suggests that the dominant plant species on the simakobu habitat is Logauna (Knema sumatrana)

Modelling the distribution of Shorea leprosula in Kalimantan, Indonesia

Shorea leprosula belongs to the Dipterocarpaceae family, a dominant family in Indonesia's rainforest. The population of this species has been depleted due to extensive logging, high rates of deforestation and forest degradation in the past several decades. However, the current status of the species' range and distribution remains unknown. This research project aims to understand and predict the distribution of S. leprosula in Kalimantan using species distribution models (SDMs). This study used presence records and presence-absence records from field surveys and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) database. Two modelling methods, MaxEnt and generalised linear models (GLMs), were used to predict species distribution. Prediction maps varied with modelling methods and different datasets, producing different emphases on areas suitable for S. leprosula. Even though the descriptive and predictive capabilities of the models are considered modest, the models provide useful insights about environmental factors that affect the distribution pattern of S. leprosula. Given the limitations of species records used in this study, the model outputs also need to be cautiously interpreted to avoid prediction biases. This research project also highlights some issues that arise in using small sample sizes in developing the model. Despite its limitations, the prediction maps generated by the models can give some hints to identify the areas with high possibility of the presence of S. leprosula in Kalimantan. In addition, this research project also provides some important information on how to improve model predictions for future development to support species conservation in Indonesia's rain forests

Geographic Setting and Groundwater Table Control Carbon Emission from Indonesian Peatland: A Meta-Analysis

Peat restoration is a key climate mitigation action for achieving Indonesia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) emission reduction target. The level of carbon reduction resulting from peat restoration is uncertain, owing in part to diverse methodologies and land covers. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the impact of rewetting on reduction of total CO2 in soil and heterotrophic emissions at the country level. The tier 2 emission factor associated with the land cover category in Indonesia was also calculated. The analysis included a total of 32 studies with 112 observations (data points) for total CO2 emissions and 31 observations for heterotrophic emissions in Indonesia. The results show that the land cover category is not a significant predictor of heterotrophic and total soil emissions, but the highest observed soil emissions were found in the plantation forest. Using the random-effects model, our results suggest that an increase in the water table depth of 10 cm would result in an increase in total CO2 emissions of 2.7 Mg CO2 ha−1 year−1 and an increase in heterotrophic emissions of 2.3 Mg CO2 ha−1 year−1. Our findings show that managing water table depth in degraded peatlands in various land cover types is important to achieve Indonesia’s emission reduction target by 2030

Natural climate solutions in Indonesia: wetlands are the key to achieve Indonesia’s national climate commitment

Indonesia offers a dramatic opportunity to contribute to tackling climate change by deploying natural climate solutions (NCS), increasing carbon sequestration and storage through the protection, improved management, and restoration of drylands, peatlands, and mangrove ecosystems. Here, we estimate Indonesia’s NCS mitigation opportunity for the first time using national datasets. We calculated the maximum NCS mitigation potential extent using datasets of annual national land cover, peat soil, and critical lands. We collated a national emissions factor database for each pathway, calculated from a meta-analysis, recent publications from our team, and available literature. The maximum NCS mitigation potential in 2030 is 1.3 ± 0.04 GtCO _2 e yr ^−1 , based on the historical baseline period from 2009–2019. This maximum NCS potential is double Indonesia’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) target from the forestry and other land use sector. Of this potential opportunity, 77% comes from wetland ecosystems. Peatlands have the largest NCS mitigation potential (960 ± 15.4 MtCO _2 e yr ^−1 or 71.5 MgCO _2 e ha ^−1 yr ^−1 ) among all other ecosystems. Mangroves provide a smaller total potential (41.1 ± 1.4 MtCO _2 e yr ^−1 ) but have a much higher mitigation density (12.2 MgCO _2 e ha ^−1 yr ^−1 ) compared to dryland ecosystems (2.9 MgCO _2 e ha ^−1 yr ^−1 ). Therefore, protecting, managing, and restoring Indonesia’s wetlands is key to achieving the country’s emissions reduction target by 2030. The results of this study can be used to inform conservation programs and national climate policy to prioritize wetlands and other land sector initiatives to fulfill Indonesia’s NDC by 2030, while simultaneously providing additional co-benefits and contributing to COVID-19 recovery and economic sustainability

A Chronicle of Indonesia’s Forest Management: A Long Step towards Environmental Sustainability and Community Welfare

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, with 17,000 islands of varying sizes and elevations, from lowlands to very high mountains, stretching more than 5000 km eastward from Sabang in Aceh to Merauke in Papua. Although occupying only 1.3% of the world’s land area, Indonesia possesses the third-largest rainforest and the second-highest level of biodiversity, with very high species diversity and endemism. However, during the last two decades, Indonesia has been known as a country with a high level of deforestation, a producer of smoke from burning forests and land, and a producer of carbon emissions. The aim of this paper is to review the environmental history and the long process of Indonesian forest management towards achieving environmental sustainability and community welfare. To do this, we analyze the milestones of Indonesian forest management history, present and future challenges, and provide strategic recommendations toward a viable Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) system. Our review showed that the history of forestry management in Indonesia has evolved through a long process, especially related to contestation over the control of natural resources and supporting policies and regulations. During the process, many efforts have been applied to reduce the deforestation rate, such as a moratorium on permitting primary natural forest and peat land, land rehabilitation and soil conservation, environmental protection, and other significant regulations. Therefore, these efforts should be maintained and improved continuously in the future due to their significant positive impacts on a variety of forest areas toward the achievement of viable SFM. Finally, we conclude that the Indonesian government has struggled to formulate sustainable forest management policies that balance economic, ecological, and social needs, among others, through developing and implementing social forestry instruments, developing and implementing human resource capacity, increasing community literacy, strengthening forest governance by eliminating ambiguity and overlapping regulations, simplification of bureaucracy, revitalization of traditional wisdom, and fair law enforcement