Development Of Oil Palm Plantations Research Articles

The DEVELOPMENT OF Elaeidobius kamerunicus FAUST POPULATION AFTER INTRODUCTION AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF OIL PALM FRUIT SET IN SERAM ISLAND, MOLLUCAS, INDONESIA

Elaeidobius kamerunicus is the main pollinating agent in oil palm plantations in Indonesia today. The development of oil palm plantations in new areas requires introduction of these insects, moreover the new areas are located on different islands. First introduction of Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust had been done from North Sumatra to Seram Island on 23 September 2013. The introduction was performed on larva and pupa stadium in 4-5 days post anthesising of male inflorescences. The introduction of E. kamerunicus using plywood boxes has an average risk of death by 7.89% at 6 days delivery period. Observation before releasing of the weevils showed that this insect was not detected in both of oil palm male and female flowers and the oil palm fruit set was very low approximately 11.27%. For about 500 weevils/ha were released in Marnuhu estate and could be developed into 362,401 weevils/ha in 5 months with 97.86% of oil palm sex ratio. The oil palm fruit sets were increased after 1 and 2 months introduction, 53.70% and 75.56 %, respectively. The lower sex ratio of oil palm or the more availability of male inflorescences make growth of E. kamerunicus population became faster and the greater number of weevils that visiting anthesising of female flowers make the higher value of oil palm fruit set.

PROPERTIES IMPROVEMENT AND HYDROPHOBICITY PREVENTION OF PEAT SOIL IN OIL PALM PLANTATION THROUGH STEEL SLAG APPLICATION

Development of oil palm plantation on peatland was faced with hydrophobicity problem caused by over drained. Hydrophobicity could reduce water retention and nutrient availability in the peat soil. Beside of proper water management application, addition of soil ameliorant which contain iron could increase stability and improve peat soil fertility. The study was conducted to obtain the effect of steel slag on peat soil properties and hydrophobicity. In this study, peat soil was incorporated with steel slag and incubated in 60 days period. The research was employed completely randomized design (CRD) factorial 2 x 2 x 4. First factor is peat maturity consists of two levels: sapric (S) and hemic (H), while the second factor is soil moisture which also consist of two levels: field capacity (W1) and dry (under the critical water content) (W2). The third factor is steel slag dosage which consist of four levels: 0 g pot (TB0), 7.17 g pot (TB1), 14.81 g -1 -1 pot (TB2), and 22.44 g pot (TB3). The result showed that application of steel slag significantly increase of soil pH, ash content, and water retention at pF 4.2. Furthermore, application of steel slag significantly reduce time for water reabsorption (wettability) in sapric. On the other hand, there are negative corellation between water penetration and soil pH, ash content, and water retention at pF 4.2. Overall, application of steel slag could increase wettability and prevent peat soil hydrophobicity.

Evaluation of Environmental Impact and Energy Consumption for Development of Oil Palm Plantation in Aceh Province

Evaluation of Environmental Impact and Energy Consumption for Development of Oil Palm Plantation in Aceh Province

Formulating Oil Palm Investment Decision in Tidal Wetlands of South Sumatra, Indonesia

<p>The research aimed to formulate an investment decision for oil palm plantation in tidal wetlands of PulauRimau, Banyuasin South Sumatra Indonesia. The research summarized that Land productivity and input amount will determine some differences of each soil suitability (S<sub>1</sub>, S<sub>2</sub> and S<sub>3</sub>). The more land suitability level is, the more Fresh Fruit Bunches of Oil Palm (FFB) productivity per ha is produced and the less input is given. Net B/C Ratio, NPV and IRR for all land suitability classes are financially feasible for oil palm plantation development, however the most feasible and the most Expected Rate of Return (IRR) is in tidal wetlands with S<sub>1</sub> land suitability (very suitable), followed by S<sub>2</sub> (suitable) and S<sub>3</sub> (marginally suitable). Sensitivity analysis to feasibility for three land suitability is still economically feasible to build and to develop oil palm plantation, especially in large scale, thus its decision for capital investment is suitable.</p>

AGROWISATA KELAPA SAWIT DI RIAU

The purpose of this study is to find out how to cultivate oil palm in Indonesia, so it could become a tourist destination that gives welfare to the surrounding community and the Indonesian community in the development of oil palm plantations is also supported by the geographical position, topograsif, climate, hydrology, and natural conditions suitable for planting oil palm. Agrotourism is a special type of tourism that makes agricultural crops, livestock, farm as an attraction for tourists. According R.S. Damardjati (2006) Agro is a tourist attraction visits the farm with agricultural or plantation areas that are distinctive, which has been developed such that the various aspects related to the cultivated plant species has led to motivation and attraction for tourists who visit it.
 Keywords: Agrotourism, Attraction, Palm,Indonesia,climate,and hydrology

Expansion of Oil Palm Plantations and Forest Cover Changes in Bungo and Merangin Districts, Jambi Province, Indonesia

It is often cited that large scale oil palm plantation were responsible for forest cover changes in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Objective of the research was to identify whether oil palm concessions were the direct cause of intact forest cover changes in study area. The study areas are situated at Jambi Province, Indonesia and are experiencing rapid expansion of oil palm plantation. We used Landsat temporal images from year 1988, 1990, 2000, 2007, and 2013 to detect forest cover change. We also made use Carnegie Landsat Analysis System–Lite (CLASlite) fractional cover module to differentiate undisturbed (intact), disturbed (logged) forest and also oil palm growing stages on Landsat images. Our study showed that, there were only 8% of oil palm plantation development occurred by direct clearing of intact forest in the study area in the last 25 years. Oil palm concessions in the last 25 years were mostly developed on logged forest, agroforests, and shrub lands.

Oil Palm Plantation Development: An Emerging Threat to Biodiversity Conservation in Oban Division of Cross River National Park, Nigeria

Oil Palm Plantation Development: An Emerging Threat to Biodiversity Conservation in Oban Division of Cross River National Park, Nigeria

Implication for Designing a REDD+ Program in a Frontier of Oil Palm Plantation Development: Evidence in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

To examine the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) program as an alternative to an oil palm plantation in West Kutai district of East Kalimantan, we determined the profitability of land use and REDD+, and the land use preferences and practices of the local people, as well as their participation in and preferences for forestry programs. Our findings indicate the following: 1) the profitability of an oil palm plantation was higher than that from other land uses and the REDD+ program; 2) the local preferences for land uses were mostly consistent with the profitability of the land uses, except for oil palm plantation due to non-financial concerns; 3) the local people combined each land use in accordance with their various needs; and 4) the local people were interested in a Forest and Land Rehabilitation (RHL) program in nonforestry zones. Considering these evidences, an improved RHL program based on an intensive agroforestry system and a conservation-based REDD+ program based on existing customary conservation forest management by the local people are proposed. Given the high opportunity cost and the low preference for an oil palm plantation, designing the REDD+ program by paying attention to the non-financial benefits for a community is a way forward. To enhance the non-financial benefits, it is important to take into consideration local preferences and livelihood activities in designing the REDD+ program. This study also implies the need for a reconsideration of the position of participation of local people in the safeguards of REDD+.

Studi Pengembangan Kelapa Sawit Rakyat di Provinsi Riau

The study aimed to analyze development of smallholder oil palm plantations in Riau, focusing on patterns of partnership between farmer and estate companies, financial intitutions, marketing agents, and industries, and analyzed profit margin and farmer incomecontribution to household income. Data had been collected by household survey and indepth interviews, and analyzed using a descriptive-comparative method. The study identified that smallholder oil palm plantations were developed by finance scheme of Nucleus Estate Smallholder (NES), KKPA (Kreedit Koperasi Primer untuk Anggota), and pure self finance. According to the poverty criteriaby Sayogyo, most of the oil palm farmers are not in poor category. The productivity of pure self finance smallholder plantation is 15.5% to 44.0% from the research-based palm oil standart productivity, while smallholder plantations by NES and KKPA have 61,3% to 83,8% and 39,7% to 70,6% of the standart, respectively. It is due to diferences in seed used and agricultural technology applied. Marketing of fresh fruit bunches in smallholder plantations by NES and KKPA integrated with nucleus estate or company, while marketing by pure self finance smallholder plantations used intermediate sellers.

DAMPAK PERKEBUNAN KELAPA SAWIT RAKYAT TERHADAP PENDAPATAN WILAYAH DESA DI PROVINSI JAMBI

Smallholder oil palm estate in Jambi Province is growing. Some indicators are land development, production, and employment. Smallholder oil palm estate can be a major driver of the economy so that the country can move other economic sectors, such as trade, transport, electricity and gas, manufacture small industrial and other sectors, which in turn increases the income of the village as a whole. This study aimed to determine (1) the development of oil palm estate seen from land, production, and employment in the province of Jambi (2) Impact of smallholder oil palm estate against Gross Regional Domestic Product Villages in Jambi Province. The research method used in this study is a survey method. This method of research was done deductively, by conducting an analysis of the object. Data were collected from primary sources and secondary sources. The development of oil palm plantations quantitatively analyzed descriptively. To determine whether the development of oil palm plantations had such an impact is determined by the formula LQ (Location Quotient) and the magnitude of the impact made by Formula ME (multiplier effect). To determine the value of LQ and ME the sample villages can be determined that a major driver of the sector (Prime mover sector) in the village economy. These results indicate that oil palm plantations have grown rapidly both views of land, production, and employment. Oil palm plantations have an impact on the income of the people of the village, where 9 of 20 samples villages have values LQ>1 with the average ME value was 1.4107, which means that any increase in palm oil revenue amounted toRp1, -it will be able to increase the income of the region village as a whole amounted to1.4107times. The impact is especially true of the sub-sectors of trade, transport sub-sector, and electricity and gas sub-sector. The impact is small relative to the manufacturing sector.Key words: smallholders oil palm estate, GRDB of villages, LQ, and ME.

Malaysian biofuels industry experience: A socio-political analysis of the commercial environment

This study examines the Jatropha adoption process in Sarawak, Malaysia, a land rich in biological and ethnic diversity, but highly impoverished. Attempts to alleviate poverty through oil palm plantation development resulted in internationally condemned destruction of peat lands. Sarawak subsequently turned to the inedible, low-input, exportable, biodiesel feedstock Jatropha. This case study argues that Jatropha is unlikely to make more significant socio-economic contributions than oil palm or other cash crops. The analysis suggests that companies use social capital to aggressively expand their Jatropha business among the native population in order to gain access to native customary lands, which are often underproductive peat lands. Global biofuels sector development dynamics are examined through the lenses of political economics and social, agricultural, and energy studies. The research finds that farmers' decisions to participate in the biofuels global value chain may result in negative income effects, household food security reduction, and biodiversity loss from peat land destruction. The paper concludes with a proposal for an alternative approach to evaluate both social and financial drivers in order to prevent the negative effects of biofuel-based agribusiness on human and environmental systems.

Monitoring of Deforestation and Fragmentation in Sarawak, Malaysia between 1990 and 2009 Using Landsat and SPOT Images

Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia that covers 37.5% of the total land area. Multitemporal satellite images of Landsat and SPOT were used to examine deforestation and forest fragmentation in Sarawak between 1990 and 2009. Supervised classification with maximum likelihood classifier was used to classify the land cover types in Sarawak. The overall accuracies of all classifications were more than 80%. Our results showed that forests were reduced at 0.62% annually during the two decades. The peat swamp forest suffered a tremendous loss of almost 50% between 1990 and 2009 especially at coastal divisions due to intensified oil palm plantation development. Fragmentation analysis revealed the loss of about 65% of the core area of intact forest during the change period. The core area of peat swamp forest had almost completely disappeared during the two decades.

Committed carbon emissions, deforestation, and community land conversion from oil palm plantation expansion in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Industrial agricultural plantations are a rapidly increasing yet largely unmeasured source of tropical land cover change. Here, we evaluate impacts of oil palm plantation development on land cover, carbon flux, and agrarian community lands in West Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. With a spatially explicit land change/carbon bookkeeping model, parameterized using high-resolution satellite time series and informed by socioeconomic surveys, we assess previous and project future plantation expansion under five scenarios. Although fire was the primary proximate cause of 1989-2008 deforestation (93%) and net carbon emissions (69%), by 2007-2008, oil palm directly caused 27% of total and 40% of peatland deforestation. Plantation land sources exhibited distinctive temporal dynamics, comprising 81% forests on mineral soils (1994-2001), shifting to 69% peatlands (2008-2011). Plantation leases reveal vast development potential. In 2008, leases spanned ∼65% of the region, including 62% on peatlands and 59% of community-managed lands, yet <10% of lease area was planted. Projecting business as usual (BAU), by 2020 ∼40% of regional and 35% of community lands are cleared for oil palm, generating 26% of net carbon emissions. Intact forest cover declines to 4%, and the proportion of emissions sourced from peatlands increases 38%. Prohibiting intact and logged forest and peatland conversion to oil palm reduces emissions only 4% below BAU, because of continued uncontrolled fire. Protecting logged forests achieves greater carbon emissions reductions (21%) than protecting intact forests alone (9%) and is critical for mitigating carbon emissions. Extensive allocated leases constrain land management options, requiring trade-offs among oil palm production, carbon emissions mitigation, and maintaining community landholdings.

PERCEPATAN EKONOMI PEDESAAN MELALUI PEMBANGUNAN PERKEBUNAN KELAPA SAWIT *

This research assessed the impact of oil palm plantation development to the acceleration of economic development of community in effort to alleviate poverty in rural areas. The research was conducted through survei with descriptive method. Information obtained through the approach of Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA). The results obtained by oil palm plantation activities in the rural areas created a figure amounting to 3.03 of multiplier effect, especially in employment and business opportunity. In year 2003, the farmer’s welfare index of rural areas amounting to 1.72. It means the growth of the farmer’s welfare increased by 172 percent. In the period of 2003-2006, farmers' welfare index was 0.18 and the period of 2006- 2009 also experienced positive at 0.12. It means the welfare of farmers during this period increased by 12 percent.

Nest density as determinants for habitat utilizations of Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) in degraded forests of Gunung Palung National Park, West Kalimantan

Prasetyo D, Sugardjito J (2011) Nest density as determinants for habitat utilizations of Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) in degraded forests of Gunung Palung National Park, West Kalimantan. Biodiversitas 12: 164-170. Conversion of forests into nonforests areas particularly for the development of timber industry and oil palm plantation in Ketapang district, West Kalimantan province was drastically increased recently. We have conducted an assessment for the density of Bornean orangutans Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii L. in degraded forests of the boundary of Gunung Palung National Park, West Kalimantan in 2004 and 2005. We used line-transects nest-count to survey 39,6 km length at 13 sites including 7 in side the park and the other 6 situated out side the park which holds a difference status of forest management. The differences of nest density between degraded forests habitat was calculated. The olddegraded forest which has been logged for 5 years or more, were containing more new nests in a cluster compared to the recently as well as currently logged. The highest number of orangutan’s nests could be found in the old degraded forest in side the park, whereas the lowest one was obtained in the currently logged protection forest with the density of 3.70 ind/km2 and 0.06 ind/km2 respectively. We compare these results with the survey undertaken previously in the area when the logging and forest conversion activities have just begun in the region in 2001.

Economic benefits of standing forests in highland areas of Borneo: quantification and policy impacts

AbstractThere exist thousands of valuation studies for environmental goods and services, but the degree to which these have influenced policy is uncertain, especially in developing countries. Here, we demonstrate that a rapid assessment of the benefits of standing forests in the highlands of Borneo is feasible and can provide useful and timely information for conservation policy decisions. We used existing biophysical and economic information to characterize values associated with forests in areas proposed for oil palm plantation development. We focused on three classes of benefits: avoided damages associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions (carbon storage), avoided damages associated with increased fires, and the economic benefits of forest–agriculture mosaics. Carbon storage values dominated the overall value of standing forests and were of similar magnitude to benefits from oil palm plantations. Other values were smaller but nevertheless important to different stakeholder groups. We document how the results were used to influence the Indonesian government's policy on oil palm plantations in the highlands of Borneo. While we cannot quantify the precise policy impact of the valuation work, it appears to have played a role in the decision to shelve the oil palm project.

Degradation and loss of forest land and land‐use changes in Sarawak, East Malaysia: a study of native land use by the Iban

AbstractSwidden agriculture, commercial logging and plantation development have been considered to be the primary common causes of degradation and loss of tropical rain forests in Southeast Asia. In this paper, I chose a part of northeastern Sarawak, East Malaysia as my case study area to analyze the changes in its land‐use characteristics. In the study area, as well as primeval forests, we see that land use began about 100 years ago by a native group called the Iban; commercial logging began in the 1960s, and the development of oil palm plantations began recently. I describe the changes in land use as well as their social and economic causes by referring to aerial photographs, literature surveys, interviews with government officers and the Iban, and observation of land use. My analysis of land use demonstrates that on “state land”, where commercial logging and oil palm plantation development are occurring, large areas of forest have been disturbed in a short period of time. The objective is to benefit economically in response to the social and economic conditions surrounding the study area. On the other hand, in the “Iban territory,” where the Iban practice their land use, land conversion has not occurred on a large scale and in a short period of time, even though the forest has been cut and agricultural fields have been created in response to social and economic conditions as well. They disperse small agricultural fields throughout their forest land. Therefore, the landscape of the “Iban territory” is based on secondary forest, composed of patches of forest in various stages and with several types of agricultural land. Today in Sarawak, monocrop plantations are rapidly expanding and little primeval forest remains. Given these conditions, the land‐use practices of natives such as the Iban will be evaluated from the viewpoint of ecosystem and biodiversity conservation. It could play an important role in providing habitats for natural wildlife.

Tropical Peatland water management modelling of the Air Hitam Laut catchment in Indonesia

Human induced land use change and associated fire alter profoundly the hydrology of tropical peatlands and thus affect the functioning of entire river catchments. The hydrological model SIMGRO was used to calculate the effects of drainage on peat water levels, peat surface morphology and river flows within the Air Hitam Laut catchment in Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. Model outcomes were calibrated and validated using groundwater levels monitored at several sites, discharges measured in the Air Hitam Laut River and flooding patterns derived from remotely sensed Radar images. The validated model was used to predict consequences of three possible scenarios: (i) expansion of oil palm plantations upstream, (ii) expansion of agriculture downstream and (iii) continuing fire damage. Oil palm plantation development results in changes to the drainage pattern of the catchment and reduces its natural extent. Lowered river discharge will have a detrimental affect upon the sustainability of Berbak National Park in the centre of the catchment and reduce prospects for agriculture and fisheries in the coastal zone. Expansion of agriculture downstream causes peat subsidence, resulting in exposure of underlying, acid sulphate soils and intrusion of saline sea water. Continuing fires will increase considerably the area of permanently flooded land and thus constrain peatland restoration options. For peatland restoration to be successful hydrological management must be accompanied by economic measures to improve the livelihoods of local people and by effective law enforcement.

Environmental change, development and vectorborne disease: Malaysia’s experience with filariasis, scrub typhus and dengue

During Malaysia’s rapid economic development into becoming a middle income country in the past several decades, environmental changes resulted in altered land use patterns because of agricultural practices such as large scale rice, rubber and oil palm cultivation. The impact of environmental changes brought about by rice and rubber cultivation affected the breeding habitats of mosquito vectors which in turn affected the prevalence of two strains of lymphatic filariasis in different ways. With scrub typhus, the development of oil palm plantations affected the ecology of mite and rodent populations which resulted in very high incidence of the disease in affected populations. Malaysia’s relentless urbanization has resulted in increased incidence of dengue, as peridomestic mosquito vectors increasingly colonize urban habitats. This article discusses how ecological factors determine the way lymphatic filariasis, scrub typhus and dengue were spread in Malaysia. The nation’s experience with environmental changes due to rapid development provides lessons for other developing countries in control programs and public health policy.

Vulnerability, Control and Oil Palm in Sarawak: Globalization and a New Era?

In the post logging era, Sarawak is being restructured to make way for large‐scale oil palm plantations. In this restructuring, the vulnerabilities of particular areas are being used in a wider battle to control production, particularly for export. Native customary lands, considered ‘unproductive’ or ‘idle’ by officials, are the target of oil palm plantation development under a new land development programme called Konsep Baru (New Concept). This article looks at the contradictions generated by the complex process of laying claims to ‘idle’ native customary land and focuses on Dayak organizing initiatives in northern Sarawak, Malaysia.