Search

In the peatlands of Central Kalimantan, expectations of payments for reducing carbon emissions shape the discourse over natural resource management as a means of influencing policy and exercising power. Different types of actors have their own choice of argument and interpretation of facts, rules and norms over resource use or conservation. This article examines the discursive strategies used by contestants in the struggle over property rights in a failed development project ('ex-Mega Rice Area') in Central Kalimantan and traces their changes and developments in the justification for policy influence in the face of REDD++implementation. Shifting national policy priorities have affected the distribution of power that shapes the practice and use of forest peatland. The case study highlights the historical baggage of perceived injustice between state and local communities and the contest between national and provincial government authorities that complicates the debate on current efforts to mitigate climate change by emission reduction.

Contested rules between the state and local communities over use and protection of forest affect environmental services and livelihood options in Indonesia's forest margins. Success in forest protection and emission reduction (REDD) requires conflict resolution. The recent village forest (Hutan Desa) regulation by the Minister of Forestry (P.49/Menhut-II/2008) details how to reconcile forest management targets and livelihood interests of forest-edge villages within the framework of a permanent forest estate. Lubuk Beringin in Bungo District, Jambi Province became the first village in Indonesia to secure such an agreement. Our analysis of process, stakes and social capital bridging local, district and national scales of Hutan Desaaims to assist in reducing transaction costs for wider application. Streamlining of rules is needed to make Hutan Desaa viable part of REDD schemes at relevant scale, and to support locally appropriate mitigation action as part of national strategies, and as co-investment in stewardship for local, national and global benefits.

AbstractSoil organic matter (SOM) is the major controlling factor of soil fertility for low external input agriculture. However, most models describing SOM dynamics are based upon pools which are not directly measurable. We developed a SOM submodule for the CENTURY model based on Ludox particle size density fractions. The turnover rates of these easily measurable fractions were determined by assessing their 13C isotope signatures in a chronose-quence under surgane after rainforest conversion.The net monthly decomposition rates of light (L), intermediate (I) and heavy (H) fractions of macro-organic matter (150 μm – 2 mm size) under sugarcane cultivated for 2–10 years following forest removal ranged from 0.0162 and 0.0154 month−1for forest-derived L and I fractions to 0.0118 month−1for H fractions, while for unfractionated forest soil organic matter it was 0.0068 month−1. The soil carbon of the CENTURY model was reconstructed and the ‘slow’ (SOM2) pool was divided into L, I, H and R fractions, where the R (resistant) fraction represents the 50–150 μm size fraction. The modified CENTURY model simulated the dynamics of L, I and H fractions as well as total organic carbon (C%) under sugarcane with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.90, 0.95 and 0.98, respectively. Without further adjustments the model was applied to woodlots of Gliricidia sepiumand Peltophorum dasyrrachis. The model accounted for 60% of the variation in measured light (L) fraction in the 0–5 cm layer under Gliricidiaand Peltophorum, but only for 40% of the variation in the I and H fraction data. Results thus show some progress in linking SOM models to measurable soil organic matter fractions, but are not yet satisfactory for the heavier fractions, more strongly associated with mineral particles. Experimental data for these fractions show a considerable spatial variability, possibly linked to activity of soil fauna, not covered by the model.

AbstractThree types of cropping systems, cassava-based intercropping, hedgerow intercropping and legume cover crop rotations, were evaluated in 1994–1997 in Northern Lampung, Sumatra. The purpose of this experiment was to quantify the C and N flows returned within and transported out of plots and crop yields of different cropping systems.Cassava-based systems were not stable and yields declined over time. Intercropping cassava with rice increased cassava fresh tuber weight by 5–48% compared to the monocrop-ping system. The hedgerow intercropping gave lower maize, rice, groundnut and cowpea yields than could be obtained in a crop rotation with legume cover crops. Maize grain yields in the 80–20 rice/maize mixture were about 0.4 Mg ha−1in the rice — groundnut rotation and about half as much when intercropped with cassava or hedgerows. Rice yields intercropped with cassava or with hedgerows were about 1 Mg ha−1less in year 2 and 3 than those grown in rotation with groundnut. The rice yield in the first cropping season was only about 1 Mg ha−1, but in the second and third year yields in the rice — legume rotation increased to around 2 and around 3 Mg ha−1, respectively. This increase occurred despite a decline in soil organic matter content.The cassava-based systems removed much more C (7 Mg ha−1yr-1) than the other systems, while less was returned (about 0.5–2 Mg ha−1) to the soil. In the hedgerow intercropping system about 2.5 Mg C ha−1yr−1was returned to the plot as biomass pruning and crop residues and about 1.5 Mg C ha−1yr−1was removed from the plot as yield. In the cover crop rotation 2.6 Mg ha−1yr−1of C was returned to the plot as crop residues plus Mucuna(only the 2nd year) and Cowpea biomass, and about 1.1 Mg ha−1yr−1was removed from the plot. The hedgerow intercropping systems gave an N surplus of about 15–50 kg ha−1yr−1returned to the soil; while the balance was 10–20 kg ha−1yr−1for the cover crop rotation systems and the cassava-based systems showed a negative N budget of about 60 kg ha−1yr−1.

AbstractThe use of food-crop intercropping, hedgerow intercropping and secondary or cover cropping to increase incomes of resource-poor farmers in South East Asia was investigated. Since all systems improve conservation of nutrients and most give extra marketable produce, they were expected to increase farm profitability. On upland farms in Lampung, South Sumatra, both inter- and secondary crops were found to improve yields compared with cassava monocropping and thus the income derived from growing cassava or rice with maize. These increases were equivalent to between 70 and 440 US dollars per hectare. An economic analysis of the lowland rice-producing systems in North East Thailand suggested that with the exception of growing cowpea, the use of pre-rice cover crops was not profitable despite a substantial increase in rice yield, because the additional labour cost more than the additional income was worth. A benefit of leguminous crops, however, can be the extra marketable product. Groundnut in Indonesia and cowpea in Thailand gave an attractive extra US$ 400–1150 total income increase per hectare per year (i.e. extra yield of the main food crop plus extra marketable produce from the secondary crop) even after the additional costs were deducted. Hedgerow intercropping gave smaller profit margins of about US$ 90. Although both hedgerow intercropping and secondary cropping represent a considerable investment of labour by farmers, this investment may be more feasible than paying for fertilizer on credit. On balance the most attractive option tested was the use of a leguminous secondary crop, e.g. groundnut or multipurpose cowpea, within the food crop cycle.

AbstractThe contribution of the leguminous hedgerow trees Flemingia congestaand mixed Gliricidia sepium — Peltophorum dasyrrachisestablished on an Ultisol (Grossarenic Kandiudult) in Northern Lampung, Sumatra to the N economy of the hedgerow intercropping system was assessed. N2fixation estimates of hedgerow trees over a two year period after establishment were obtained by the 15N dilution method using Peltophorum dasyrrachisas the non-fixing reference plant.Average yearly tree pruning dry matter and total N yields of the two hedgerow systems were not significantly different although seasonal differences occurred. Gliricidiaobtained a larger (average 51%) proportion of its N from N2fixation than Flemingia(average 25%) the effect being consistent over the two years. Seasonal variation in the % N derived from N2fixation was associated with changes in soil mineral N availability. The amount of N2fixed was not significantly different between the two N fixing trees (26 vs. 35 kg N ha−1yr−1respectively). This was due to the higher total N yield of Flemingiacompared to Gliricidiacompensating for the smaller proportion of N derived from N2fixation. The amount of tree soil N uptake was similar for the two hedgerow systems suggesting that the higher proportion of N derived from N2fixation in Gliricidiawas probably due to competition for soil mineral N by the associated non-fixing Peltophorum. Rapid temporal and spatial decline in plant available 15N occurred suggesting that matching of fixing and non-fixing reference plants is important. Compared with estimates of N2fixation obtained by the natural abundance method the 15N dilution method overestimated N2fixation by the tree legumes (an average of up to 18%), however the difference between the two fixing legume trees was maintained. N balance estimates suggested that N2fixation inputs of alley trees were sufficient to sustain moderate crop yields but for higher food crop yields, N2fixing leguminous crops would have to be included to balance N off-take.

The contribution of the leguminous hedgerow trees Flemingia congesta and mixed Gliricidia sepium — Peltophorum dasyrrachis established on an Ultisol (Grossarenic Kandiudult) in Northern Lampung, Sumatra to the N economy of the hedgerow intercropping system was assessed. N2 fixation estimates of hedgerow trees over a two year period after establishment were obtained by the 15N dilution method using Peltophorum dasyrrachis as the non-fixing reference plant.

Abstract: Urine samples were collected from individuals in a wild population of Sumatran long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), and the levels of cortisol, immunoreactive prolactin, and (for males) testosterone were determined. The amount of foraging during the 2 hr preceding urine collection were found to affect the levels of urinary cortisol, but not those of the other hormones. Immigration into a new group and having one's infant kidnapped led to increased levels of cortisol. Levels of cortisol and testosterone were correlated both within and between individuals, whereas prolactin varied independently. The effects of age, reproductive status, and social rank on the mean values of individuals were also examined. Lactating females had higher prolactin levels than non-lactating ones; reproductive state interacted with the age effect on prolactin and possibly cortisol. No effects of social status were found in spite of a small, but consistent effect of rank on birth rate in this population. Among males, age and rank are strongly linked. The low ranking old males had increased levels of cortisol, even though the younger high-ranking males were involved in the fiercest conflicts.