Reconciling local and public knowledge on developing reward

mechanism for watershed service in Indonesia

Elok Mulyoutami, Betha Lusiana, Laxman Joshi, Meine van NoordwijkICRAF Southeast Asia Regional Office

Bogor, Indonesia

Outline• Multi-stakeholders knowledge system• Knowledge acquisition based on case studies• Reconciling local and policy maker’s knowledge in

the context of payment for environmental services• Conclusions

University

Scientist

Environment

Upland

Lowland

NGO’s

Private

Policy maker’s (local, regional, national)

Other gov’t institution

Local gov’t

Multi stakeholder knowledge

LocalEcological Knowledge

Public/PolicyEcologicalKnowledge

HydrologistEcological

Knowledge

Knowledge acquisition (methodology)

• Local stakeholders – RRA, individual interviews, direct observations, group discussions– snowball sample– random stratified sample

• Public/policy makers – individual and group discussion base on stakeholder analysis

• Literature review

Case study from 3 location in Indonesia

• Singkarak Lake, West Sumatra • Kapuas Hulu Basin, West Kalimantan• Lahurus spring, East Nusa Tenggara

Case 1 Kalimantan: Local knowledge on relationship of landscape and hydrological issues

Nanga Hovat

Tanjung Karang

Lunsara

Datah Diaan

Putussibau

Sibau Hilir

Sibau Hulu

Nanga Bungan

KAPUAS

MENDALAM

SIBAU

Sayut

upstream

midstream

downstream

Village

Gold mining

Upland paddy fieldMature tapped rubber

Sub village

Traditional agroforestry system (tembawang)FishingNewly established local rubber

Newly established clonal rubber

Legend

Upstream Mid-region Downstream

Issues Riverbanks collapse Soil erosionSedimentation

FloodsRiverbank collapse, Soil erosionSedimentation

Causing factors

Degraded riparian zonesSoil structure (sandy)

Reduction of forest coverDegraded riparian zonesSoil structures and high rainfall

Land use Traditionally managed complex agroforest (Tembawang system) and dryland field

Rubber systems Semi-permanent upland systems (dry and wetland)

Rubber systems and Semi-permanent upland (dry and wetland),Vegetable patch

Livelihood Hunter and gathering NTFP: eaglewood (Aquilarria sp.), swiftlet nests

Upland rice (fallow systems), rice fieldLivestock breedingTrader

What needs to be done

•Enrichment ‘Tembawang or traditional agroforestry system’•Reducing erosion with planting trees e.g Ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri)•Establishing riverbank terraces or ‘barao or terrace mechanic’ to prevent bank collapse

Case 2 Policy maker’s reforestation programme

on Sumatra: Pine (Pinus merkusii) (since 1978)

Perception of villagers surrounding Singkarak lake:• Pines absorb a lot of water from

soil because they have deep roots

• Pines have needles with smooth surface that allows rapid water evaporation

• Dry needles of pines burn easily when dry.

• Holding water capacity of pines root is low

Pines

Needles leaf

Fire hazard.

Cutting Deep root

Land coverage

Soil evaporation

Groundwater

Water Source

Used for fire wood and hut.

Tree density

Banio, Surian, Bayua, Madang (Natural Forest)

Big leaf

Crop

Grass

Season

Type of Soil

Dry

Rainy

Dry

Rainy

Clay

Limestone

After several years… policy makers or public perception• Pine tree planting is a problem in terms of inducing excessive water

use and fire risk. • Pines do impact negatively on catchment function.• Planting of broad leaf trees is better as they use less water.

Perception of people surrounding Lahurus spring about Teak• Teak leaves release a lot of water in air (transpiration)• The amount of water absorbed by Teak is high• Teak makes soil dry• Teak is very competitive for water• Teak should not be planted near other valuable plants

Terraces

Steep slopes

Runoff

Soil erosion

Spring recharge

Soil infiltration

Ground water

Solum depth

Top soil loss

Soil fertility

Teak (Tectona grandis)

Soil evaporation

Forest cover

Canopy closure

Litter thickness

Soil moisture

Root system

Soil type

Case 3 Policy maker’s reforestation programme on

Nusa Tenggara Teak (Tectona grandis) - 1990

Local beliefs about traditional agroforestry system around the spring (mamar) and trees

• Protection of forests/vegetation around springs will maintain water quality and quantity

• Following trees are good for water in the springs: kelapa hutan (Pandanus sp.), jambu air hutan (Syzigium spp), beringin (Ficus sp), mahoni (mahogany), johar/black-wood cassia (Senna siamea), mangga hitam (Mangivera sp), kelapa (coconut), pinang /betelnut (Areca catechu) and kemiri/candlenut (Aleurites moluccana)

Difference characteristics of local and public/policy maker knowledge

Local knowledge Public knowledge

Knowledge holder Local community Multi stakeholder, Multi categories and levels

Generation process

Through long periods of trial-and-error; enlightened guesses, and adaptation

Through some formal education, training, workshop, and sometimes informalLimited by institutional interest

Scope Site specific: plot and landscape level

Covering wide (basin and landscape) area

Characteristics Influence by physical characteristics, social and cultural valueGaps on some detailsExplanatoryInterdisciplinary and holistic

Influenced by structural and political environment (interest and power relation)Exploratory, General, covering wide issues

Approach Plot level and landscape level Landscape level to wider level (basin)

S c i e n ti fi c u n d e rs t a n d i n g w i l l s t re n gt h e n t h e p re d i c t a b i l i t y.

• The importance of study local knowledge: – wisdom, insight realistic– legitimacy of action voluntary– possible criteria and indicator conditionality

• The importance of inclusion of public or policy maker’s knowledge– Previous or existing action or policy condition – realistic– Role of each stakeholder – voluntary– Risk assessment, resolution conflict

• Knowledge articulation can help in understanding similarities, differences and gaps in the knowledge systems of stakeholder groups lead to strategic communication

• Reconciling the knowledge system of each stakeholder is an important step on building strategic communication as a platform for negotiation on integrated natural resource management e.g. reward mechanisms

• Science understanding will strengthen the prediction, together with local and policy makers knowledge can indicate appropriate actions

C o n c l u d i n g r e m a r k s

Thank you