Why is tropical peatland conservation so challenging? Findings from a livelihood assessment in Sumatra, Indonesia
In recent years, widespread peatland degradation has occurred in Indonesia as a result of both natural events and human activities. Although there is a strong push for restoration from national and international stakeholders, at the local level, farmers and communities are still widely managing peat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Mires and Peat |
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| Online Access: | http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map30/map30_03.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797208909031669760 |
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| author | Shokhrukh-Mirzo Jalilov Sri Lestari Bondan Winarno Tri Wira Yuwati Niken Sakuntaladewi Daniel S. Mendham |
| author_facet | Shokhrukh-Mirzo Jalilov Sri Lestari Bondan Winarno Tri Wira Yuwati Niken Sakuntaladewi Daniel S. Mendham |
| author_sort | Shokhrukh-Mirzo Jalilov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, widespread peatland degradation has occurred in Indonesia as a result of both natural events and human activities. Although there is a strong push for restoration from national and international stakeholders, at the local level, farmers and communities are still widely managing peatlands with unsustainable practices including their conversion into agricultural land. To understand the causes of such a challenging situation, we carried out a survey to investigate the drivers of local livelihoods in the typical peatland village community of Kayu Labu in South Sumatra Province. Our findings showed that while the unsustainable practices adopted do not align with either the long-term interests of this community or the wider public interest, they do align with the best socioeconomic interests of the farmers. A preliminary examination of the livelihood options chosen illustrates the strong contrast between public and private interests. In particular, in local communities like Kayu Labu, the profit margins for oil palm and rubber are higher than those for sustainable alternatives. We conclude that, to address the problem of peatland degradation and to design successful and sustainable peatland restoration initiatives, decision-makers need to understand the local socioeconomic situation, people’s livelihoods, and their expectations. A key option is to increase the roles and responsibilities of local communities in determining the rules that relate to land management. Only then are regulatory and policy interventions likely to improve peatland conservation and restoration outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:46:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-342892c5905e400c855f9e27f6ca2eea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1819-754X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:46:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mires and Peat |
| spelling | doaj.art-342892c5905e400c855f9e27f6ca2eea2024-04-14T21:49:38ZengInternational Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland SocietyMires and Peat1819-754X2024-01-01300312010.19189/MaP.2022.OMB.Sc.1985391Why is tropical peatland conservation so challenging? Findings from a livelihood assessment in Sumatra, IndonesiaShokhrukh-Mirzo Jalilov0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2428-9094Sri Lestari1Bondan Winarno2Tri Wira Yuwati3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8477-0795Niken Sakuntaladewi 4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3321-1571Daniel S. Mendham5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7704-2861CSIRO Environment, Canberra, AustraliaResearch Centre for Ecology and Ethnobiology, BRIN, Cibinong, West Java, IndonesiaResearch Centre for Ecology and Ethnobiology, BRIN, Cibinong, West Java, IndonesiaResearch Centre for Ecology and Ethnobiology, BRIN, Cibinong, West Java, IndonesiaResearch Centre for Ecology and Ethnobiology, BRIN, Cibinong, West Java, IndonesiaCSIRO Environment, Canberra, AustraliaIn recent years, widespread peatland degradation has occurred in Indonesia as a result of both natural events and human activities. Although there is a strong push for restoration from national and international stakeholders, at the local level, farmers and communities are still widely managing peatlands with unsustainable practices including their conversion into agricultural land. To understand the causes of such a challenging situation, we carried out a survey to investigate the drivers of local livelihoods in the typical peatland village community of Kayu Labu in South Sumatra Province. Our findings showed that while the unsustainable practices adopted do not align with either the long-term interests of this community or the wider public interest, they do align with the best socioeconomic interests of the farmers. A preliminary examination of the livelihood options chosen illustrates the strong contrast between public and private interests. In particular, in local communities like Kayu Labu, the profit margins for oil palm and rubber are higher than those for sustainable alternatives. We conclude that, to address the problem of peatland degradation and to design successful and sustainable peatland restoration initiatives, decision-makers need to understand the local socioeconomic situation, people’s livelihoods, and their expectations. A key option is to increase the roles and responsibilities of local communities in determining the rules that relate to land management. Only then are regulatory and policy interventions likely to improve peatland conservation and restoration outcomes.http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map30/map30_03.pdfecosystem serviceskayu labulivelihood optionsrestorationtragedy of the commons |
| spellingShingle | Shokhrukh-Mirzo Jalilov Sri Lestari Bondan Winarno Tri Wira Yuwati Niken Sakuntaladewi Daniel S. Mendham Why is tropical peatland conservation so challenging? Findings from a livelihood assessment in Sumatra, Indonesia Mires and Peat ecosystem services kayu labu livelihood options restoration tragedy of the commons |
| title | Why is tropical peatland conservation so challenging? Findings from a livelihood assessment in Sumatra, Indonesia |
| title_full | Why is tropical peatland conservation so challenging? Findings from a livelihood assessment in Sumatra, Indonesia |
| title_fullStr | Why is tropical peatland conservation so challenging? Findings from a livelihood assessment in Sumatra, Indonesia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why is tropical peatland conservation so challenging? Findings from a livelihood assessment in Sumatra, Indonesia |
| title_short | Why is tropical peatland conservation so challenging? Findings from a livelihood assessment in Sumatra, Indonesia |
| title_sort | why is tropical peatland conservation so challenging findings from a livelihood assessment in sumatra indonesia |
| topic | ecosystem services kayu labu livelihood options restoration tragedy of the commons |
| url | http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map30/map30_03.pdf |
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