Tree Planting in Indonesia: Trends, Impacts and Directions

Background

The report summarizes findings from a consultancy with CIFOR from September 1997 to February 1998.

Goals & Method

The goal of the report is explore socio-political aspects of tree planting in Indonesia, including current tree plantign activities, reasons for or for not engaging in tree planting, percpetions of locals and migrants towards tree planting, and the environmental impacts of tree planting. The report is dividied into four main chapters, the first one providing a general overview while the other three use case studies from West Kalimantan, Sumatran Province, and Southeast Sulewasi to further examine these questions.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The report found that oil palm production is rapidly increasingly throughout Indonesia while forest covers is largely decreasing. In addition, impoverished communities are increasingly relying on natural resource extraction for livelihoods. The authors' conclusion is pessimistic, stating that the change of political adminstration is unlikely to encourage innovative land uses nor halt the palm oil trend.