1. Local knowledge to inform effective
management of protection forests:
a case study from Indonesian Borneo
Imam Basuki, Michael Padmanaba, Murniati
14th Conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC)

2. Background
 Gunung Lumut Protection Forest (GLPF; one
of 494 in Indonesia) is still under heavy
pressure from forest encroachments.
 Conflicts between GLPF, logging
concessionaire and local people.
 Lack of information on biodiversity, local
livelihoods and socio-cultural.
 No proper management plan or board has
been made since designation of GLPF in
1983.

3. Objectives
 To examine the socio-economic condition of
the communities in and around the GLPF.
 To examine the local utilization of
landscapes and natural resources.
 To Estimate the value of the natural
resources being used by the local
communities.

4. Research Site
 The area was a production forest (1970-
1983 and then reserved as Gunung Lumut
Protection Forest (GLPF). Inhabited by more
than 15.000 people in 15 villages.
 The study was conducted in two settlement
sites located around and within the GLPF,
i.e. Rantau Layung Village and Mului Sub-
Village. Both sites are located in Pasir
District, East Kalimantan Province.
 Rantau Layung Village is inhabited by 50
households or 217 people with a population
density about 1 person/km2. Mului is
inhabited by 18 HH and 121 people.

5. Research Site
 The dominant ethnic is Paser and most of
them are indigenous people who didn’t
finish elementary school.
 Customary law was still applied in the daily
life, especially in managing natural
resources, like Alas Tuo, Alas Adat, Alas
Nareng and Alas Mori.
 People cultivate upland rice, hunting, fishing
and collecting rattan, fruits, vegetables and
honey. They did small-scale logging.

7. Methods
 The primary data were collected through
general observation, participatory mapping
of land-types and natural resource, scoring
exercises, focus group discussions (FGD),
household and key-informant personal
interviews.
 The secondary data consisted of
demographic (population related ethnic
composition), education level, public
facilities and land use systems.

8. Methods
 Data on community perspectives, including
score or rank, on importance of landscape
and products were recorded and tabulated.
• Each importance’ score was expressed as
percentage. Each score was always
accompanied by explanation provided by
the people.
• Among other perspectives, the top ten
importance species of plants and animals
from the forests was described in a series
and was valued using LUVI (Sheil et al.,
2003).

9. Identified land types in Rantau Layung and Mului, including their characteristics

10. Land types importance (mean value) for all groups in Rantau Layung

11. Land types importance (mean value) for all groups in Mului

12. Knowledge on distribution of natural resources
The GLPF management may consider these sites as key biodiversity
areas since most of them are located within and around protected
areas. Springs, mountain and riverbanks are among these special areas.

16. Land types
importance (mean
value) for all groups

17. Forest types importance (mean value) for all groups

18. Product source importance (mean value) for all groups

21. Implication to Policy on Protection Forest
Management
 Forest resource are locally considered to be
more important than most other landscapes
 active participation of local stakeholders
will support formal forest management.
 Local institutions (and knowledge) can be
great allies for the managers of protection
forest.
-- People may be “part of the problem” but
must also be “part of the solution --”

22. Acknowledgement:
Tropenbos International – Indonesia
Villagers of Mului and Rantau Layung
Thank you!