Forests, Water and Livelihoods

Although local communities may pose a threat to peat swamp forests, they are also dependant on the swamp forest resources for their survival. Therefore, collaborating with local communities can provide an opportunity to learn about swamp forest management. In 2002-2004 a project was implemented to promote the river basin and ecosystem approach for sustainable management of South-East Asian lowland peat swamp forests. It was conducted as part of the Netherlands ’ Programme Water for Food and Ecosystems. The project focused on the Air Hitam Laut river basin located in Jambi province, Sumatra , Indonesia . A large part of the river bisects the Berbak National Park that was established in 1997 to protect the peat swamp forest for its ecological and socio-economic functions, habitat and its biodiversity. Around two thirds of the total area of Berbak National Park consists of peat swamp (fresh water) forest. This type of forest is essential for the survival of local populations because it is a source of many forest products and it regulates flood and flow, preventing salt water intrusion in coastal agricultural areas and supplying fresh water for both domestic use and irrigation. However, the remaining peat swamp forests are threatened by the expansion of agricultural and settlement areas downstream of the Air Hitam Laut river and unsustainable exploitation of both wood and non wood forest resources in Berbak National Park. The article by Wösten (p. 81) describes the hydrological scenario development component of the project, indicating the real threats to people’s livelihoods if forest destruction continues. The Agricultural Economics Research Institute of the Netherlands (LEI) and national partner organisations defined and implemented a socio-economic project component to deal with problems of uncontrolled forest exploitation. This component focused on facilitating exchange of lessons learned and best practices on peat swamp forest exploitation for local income and subsistence and on identifying and developing alternative income sources to reduce the pressure on wood and non-wood forest products

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