On 24 July 2024, three (3) researchers from Indonesia, presented and discussed their research insights from the AFoCO project (AFoCO/023/2021) with the Secretariat staff. The project aims to bring innovative solutions to improve sustainable forest management practices, enhance the capacity of the Forest Management Unit (FMU), contribute to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) target, and improve community resilience to climate change in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mr. Sunpil Jin, the Vice Executive Director of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), gave a welcome remark at this session. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between Indonesia and AFoCO, also added the unwavering commitment to enhancing research programs and supporting impactful forest and environmental solutions and commend the Indonesian project team’s efforts and look forward to their continued contributions to scientific initiatives towards a sustainable future.
The knowledge-sharing session featured three key presentations:
1. “Forest Cover Change and its Carbon Dynamics in the Karst Area of Bulusaraung, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.”
Presented by Dr. Budi Hadi Narendra, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia
Dr. Budi highlighted that secondary forests in the Maros-Pangkep karst ecosystem are crucial carbon sinks. The research identified a concerning trend of deforestation driven by illegal mining and agricultural expansion. This deforestation may lead to reduction of forest cover and consequently to the carbon storage capacity of these ecosystems.
According to the analysis of the CA-Markov module, land cover projections indicated a significant decrease in secondary dryland forests by 2031, which highlights the urgent need for effective forest management and rehabilitation efforts to preserve the ecological and economic functions of the karst ecosystems and to enhance their role in carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.
2. “Unraveling Land Use and Land Cover Change, their Driving Factors, and Implications on Carbon Storage”
Presented by Dr. Ogi Setiawan, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia
Dr. Ogi presented the major findings on investigating the complex dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) changes, and their impact on carbon storage by integrating the application of satellite imagery and spatial data (Landsat, DEM, Indonesia Topographic Map) alongside socio-economic data (population, farming activities). According to the results of the research, significant deforestation was observed, primarily converting dryland forests to agricultural land.
The study stressed that dryland forests experienced the most significant LULC changes, predominantly due to deforestation and conversion to agricultural land. The main driving factors of LULC changes were identified as elevation, population pressure, and distance from settlements. If current trends continue, carbon storage is expected to decrease further over the next decade.
There is an urgent need for effective LULC management strategies to mitigate deforestation and promote sustainable land use. Plausible recommendations include developing policy measures that focus on afforestation, reducing dependency on forests, and enhancing community participation in forest conservation. Strengthening law enforcement and raising community awareness about the importance of forests and carbon sequestration are critical.
The LULC of FMU Ampang Plampang for 2011
(a), 2016 (b), and 2021 (c)
The forest coverage (primary and secondary) was the dominant LULC class, approximately 71%, 68%, and 58% for 2011, 2016, and 2021 respectively.
Agricultural farming covered 14%, 20%, and 28% of the study area for 2011, 2016, and 2021, respectively.
3. “Carbon Stock Dynamics of Forest to Oil Palm Plantation Conversion for Ecosystem Rehabilitation.”
Presented by Mr. Eko Sutrisno, Standard Implementation of Environment and Forestry Instrument Kuok, Indonesia
Mr. Eko underscored that the study aimed to assess the changes in land use and land cover (LULC) and their impact on carbon stocks over a 24-year period (1998-2022) in the Kepau Jaya specific purpose forest area (SPFA), a peatland ecosystem in Indonesia. Researchers utilized spatial analysis with Landsat 5 and 8 satellite images and socioeconomic data collected through purposive sampling. They employed a Classification and Regression Tree for guided classification and conducted a benefit-cost analysis.
The findings revealed significant LULC changes, with forested and open areas decreasing by 23.15 hectares and 16.94 hectares per year, respectively. Concurrently, oil palm plantations expanded by 40.10 hectares per year. These changes led to an annual decline in carbon stocks by 1,933.11 tons. However, the implementation of a participatory agroforestry scheme, intercropping Coffea liberica and Shorea balangeran with oil palm, projected an increase in carbon stocks to 19,455 tones by 2030.
Proactive measures are necessary to improve the governance of specific-purpose forest areas. Community empowerment and the establishment of agroforestry demonstration plots are critical for promoting sustainable forest management. The integration of agroforestry systems can enhance land use diversity and support long-term ecosystem rehabilitation efforts, providing both environmental and socio-economic benefits. This summary encapsulates the key points and conclusions drawn from the research, highlighting the significant changes in land use and their implications for carbon storage and ecosystem management.
Contributed by Ms. Pudsakorn Neamsawat, 2024 AFoCO Fellowship Official