Melinda Firds Program Management Unit Assistant
World Agroforestry (ICRAF)
Jl. CIFOR, Situ Gede, Sindang Barang,
Bogor Barat - Indonesia 16115
Tel: +62 2511 8625415
Fax: +62 2511 8625416
Email: icrafseapub@cgiar.org
Forest area in North Sumatera has declined since many years ago and have changed to more
intensive land use systems, e.g. oil palm plantation, rubber monoculture plantation and
smallholder. The study of local perception on land use systems and biodiversity was
conducted in six villages in Simalungun district, Asahan district, and Serdang Berdagai district,
North Sumatera province, to understand local preferences for land-use systems, local
perceptions on land-use functions, and values on biodiversity, using Multidisciplinary
Landscape Analysis (MLA) approach. The study showed that smallholder rubber and oil palm
were the main sources of livelihoods in almost every village, since the two land use systems
were important as cash income source. All participants perceived that rubber agroforest was
the most important land use, as it could provide sources of income, food and environment
values. People’s understanding on biodiversity was closely associated with livelihood patterns
and social life, as biodiversity contributed to their daily needs, and related to specific
knowledge. All rubber plots under mixed and monoculture systems were perceived as good
value in preventing erosion, while oil palm plots were of relatively low value. Interestingly,
people also understood that forest had the highest function as an erosion control as these area
are prone to soil erosion due to topography. Local people classified flora and fauna diversity
based on their functions, such as food, source of income, fuelwood, construction, medicine,
fodder, handycraft and tools, and erosion control. They noticed different biodiversity occured
in different land-use types. Rubber agroforests provide all needs, e.g. goods and services, for
local communities
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