Limited rights and access to natural resources and declining forest resources leave local communities few other livelihood options but to engage in activities that yield immediate economic gain, particularly illegal logging activities, and convert forest lands for other purposes (e.g. oil palm) that can provide quick cash income. This, in turn, leads to further degradation of natural resources, resulting in the erosion of the support basis for sustainable livelihoods. Provided with more sustainable and profitable alternatives or more legal alternatives, degradation of forest resources may be reduced or halted.

A number of alternative, more sustainable livelihood initiatives exist and are promoted by the government, but effective implementation on site requires assistance, tools and guidelines. Community Plantation Forest (Hutan Tanaman Rakyat - HTR), Social Forestry (Hutan Kemasyarakatan) and Community Forest (Hutan Rakyat) are recent initiatives launched by the Ministry of Forestry to create the basic conditions for sustainable livelihoods. Another recent development is the introduction of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for companies involved in natural resources extraction - changing CSR activity from voluntary into mandatory - which will provide communities with possible support from companies operating in their proximity.

To what extent these central government initiatives will help to increase the wellbeing of forest-dependent communities, and whether these will lead to a reduced pressure on forest resources and biodiversity, remains to be seen.

The principle research topics generated in this project is designed to address some of these issues:

• What are the effects on the ground of the new regulation on mandatory community development for all private companies where their operations directly affect local communities?
• What are the impacts of these new government and business approaches on both the sustainability of forest management and the improvement of community wellbeing?
• How large should forest areas be to be allocated for community use and how should they be defined?

Objective

Government and corporate community forestry initiatives contribute to improved forest-based livelihoods and the conservation of forest resources.

Duration

3 years

Expected outcomes

PhD degree and dissertation, a policy brief, published paper and improved FORDA personal and institutional capacity.

	Forestry Research and Development Agency (FORDA)
	Mulawarman University
	Charles Sturt University