Stakeholder’s movement on forest resource management: a study in Merangin, Jambi Province

Abstract

This study investigates three critical issues related to forest resource management in Merangin District, Jambi Province. First, it emphasizes how forest land conversion from coffee plantations, palm oil, and mining resulted in deforestation. Second, it highlights how migrant tribes from South Sumatera establish coffee plantations in the National Park of Kerinci Sebelat in Merangin district. Third, it highlights the impact of deforestation due to encroachment, coffee plantations, and mining as well as the related ecological damage. Confronting these three issues requires considering stakeholders’ movements and views on the role of government, private companies, NGOs, and participation of local communities. This research finds the role of government, represented by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, as well as Forestry Agency Offices at the province and district levels, is important to the issue and regulation of sanctions for logging concession holders and migrant tribes from South Sumatera. Therefore, in order to implement sustainable forest management (SFM), the government invites logging concession holder and participation of local community on developing forest resource by planting trees which the scheme of social forestry and village forest. This livelihood strategy is an alternative to previous strategies that focused on paddy rice cultivation and coffee agroforestry. This livelihood change is especially notable for migrant tribes and members from local community. In contrast, the role of NGOs is very important in launching a critique concerning the impact of ecological damage, including soil erosion, flood and water contamination, which results from forest encroaching and mining.