Conservation International - The Sustainable Landscapes Partnership: An integrated model for sustain

T H E S U S TA I N A B L E L A N D S C A P E S PA R T N E RS H I P An integrated model for sustainable development in Indonesia

We envision Indonesia as a series of sustainable landscapes where natural capital is protected and enhanced through appropriate landuse, sustainable production practices, and inclusive decision-making for the improvement of human well-being.

AT A G L A N C E 2

The Sustainable Landscapes Partnership is focused on a rural economic development path that depends on, and values, natural capital as the core principle

The Sustainable Landscapes Partnership (SLP) is an integrated landscape initiative

Sustainable Landscapes Framework

that works with local governments,

GOOD GOVERNANCE

communities, businesses and NGOs to design and develop innovative, landscapescale solutions to challenges caused by human pressures on natural resources.

Conservation

International

POLICIES & PROGRAMS

SPATIAL PLANS

DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS

MULTISTAKEHOLDER FORUMS

established

SLP in Indonesia, to promote and support

SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

this model through four primary areas of intervention: conservation

of

capital;

sustainable

developing

natural

production; improving governance and participation; and sustainable financing that aim to provide a range of benefits to people.

NATURAL CAPITAL

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

Achieving sustainable development and economic growth for Indonesia will require finding the right balance between conservation and production.

BENEFITS TO PEOPLE

In the long run, success for SLP can be characterized by: •

Zero net deforestation, with

•

All land under appropriate

CLIMATE STABILITY

WATER

LIVELIHOODS

FOOD

management including the protection of biodiversity, leading to • •

Quantifiable improvements in human-

SLP

well being, supported by

Conservation International (CI) with funding

Sustainable financing.

in

Indonesia

is

implemented

by

from USAID and the Walton Family Foundation.

THE BIG PICTURE 3

Like all countries, Indonesia faces a particular set of challenges in developing sustainable landscapes. Key challenges include the growing population pressure across the archipelago – currently around 250 million; with the fourth largest population in the world and that is growing by more than 3 million people per year1. To meet the needs of this growing population, Indonesia is looking to increase domestic production, maintain economic development and provide a broad base of infrastructure and essential services.

SLP is implementing this landscape model in Indonesia in two provinces: North Sumatra and West Papua

Reflecting these pressures on land use, rates of deforestation have been high over the past 15 years. Between 2000 and 2012, It has been estimated Indonesia lost 6 million hectares of

Meanwhile, the private sector plays a key role in shaping

primary forest cover, at rate of around 0.5 million hectares per

Indonesia’s agricultural landscapes. For example, Indonesia now

year2.

produces over 50% of the palm oil produced globally, to meet

The conversion of forests for agricultural purposes and

socio-economic development have been key drivers.

demand of international consumers3. Indonesia is looking to work with multi-national interests and the private sector to

Deforestation has consequences of course. It generates

improve land management practices and encourage responsible

greenhouse gas emissions and can lead to a loss of wildlife and

sourcing along global supply chains.

biodiversity. Tropical forests are home to a vast array of species that are threatened by widespread land conversion and forest

A holistic integrated approach is required to consider and

fragmentation. North Sumatra and West Papua – the Provinces

balance the production and conservation in each landscape.

in which SLP has focused its work to date – are two of the

A widely accepted definition of the sustainable landscape is ‘a

world’s most unique and biodiverse areas; therefore it is critical

landscape that can maintain its basic structure and provide

that they are managed sustainably.

ecosystem services in a changing world of environmental,

To strengthen forest management across the country, the

economic and social conditions’. 4

Ministry of Environment and Forestry is in the process of

Within this context, SLP in Indonesia is establishing new

establishing a new model of forest management based on

partnerships and collaboration with local partners to protect

designated Forest Management Units (FMUs). This new model is

natural capital by promoting good governance and sustainable

intended to provide more active professional management at

production practices, and facilitating sustainable finance models

the local level. Indonesia is looking to establish over 600 new

that provide long-term benefits for the Indonesian society.

FMUs across the country – in itself a significant challenge.

1 World Bank Data: Indonesia’s population in 2014 was 254.5 million. Annual population growth rate 2011-2015 was 1.3%.

2 Margono, B.A., Potapov , P.V., Turubanova , S; Stolle, F; and Hansen, M. (2014) Primary forest cover loss in Indonesia over 2000–2012. Nature Climate Change, DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE2277.

3 European Palm Oil Alliance (2016) Online resource: Palm oil production http://www.palmoilandfood.eu/en/palm-oil-production and http://www.sawitindonesia.com/kinerja/2020-kebutuhan-minyak-nabati-dunia-bergantung-kepada-cpo-indonesia 4 Wu, Jianguo. (2013) Landscape Sustainability Science: Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being in Changing Landscapes. Landscape Ecology, 28 (6): 999-1023.

GOVERNANCE 4

Good governance in a landscape setting includes aligning policies and regulations across all levels of government, engaging stakeholders, ensuring social safeguards are in place and facilitating sustainable investments

SLP is working to support good governance, as it relates to land

SLP has also facilitated the development of Strategic

use planning decisions and forest conservation.

Environmental Assessments (SEA) for three districts in North

Key governance challenges in Indonesia include the limited capacity within provincial and district governments to develop and implement strategic plans relating to land use planning at the landscape level. This has led to spatial planning conflicts between government levels, and a lack of landscape level performance monitoring tools. Another key governance challenge is addressing the biophysical and ecological aspects of

Sumatra, and most recently, for the province of North Sumatra.

These SEAs have provided the science and technical evidence to support spatial planning with capacity building and inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement also underpinning the process.

Building on the SEAs, SLP has continued to support the districts to incorporate the recommendations in spatial plans for the districts of South Tapanuli and Mandailing Natal.

landscapes that can extend beyond administrative units and

Concurrently, SLP is engaging with the West Papua Province to

jurisdictional boundaries; which further highlight the need for

help support the vision of developing its Conservation Province

an integrated approach that incorporates activities that align

policy initiative as an opportunity to define a sustainable

policies and regulations across all levels of government.

development pathway. SLP, together with the Bird’s Head Secretariat, has helped bring together government, non-

Policies and plans

government, community and academic partners to establish a

To address these challenges, SLP is working with governments

provincial policy framework and targets that link 'green’

to ensure there is the scientific evidence and the decision-

government planning, budget cycles and relevant agencies.

making support tools needed to enact policies that are environmentally sustainable and good for communities. SLP has

Multi -Stakeholder Forums

supported the design of policies focused on sustainable

Multi-stakeholder forums (MSF) have an important role in

development and worked with local agencies to identify the

improving the understanding, participation and collaboration

capacity and resources required.

by stakeholders. MSFs ensure cross-sectoral alignment of

SLP has developed Sustainable Investment Action Plans (SIAP) for the three districts and the province of North Sumatra. SIAPs

policy, regulations and practices with public and private interests.

are landscape-level plans designed to support and guide

SLP has established and facilitated a range of MSFs, to support

conservation while supporting sustainable production. SIAPs

the program objectives across a range of sectors and

provide

the

geographies. These include forums set up to support the SEA

landscape. This analysis includes assessing areas of high

process in multiple districts in North Sumatra; the facilitation of

conservation value, land use suitability for crops, value chains

two regional watershed management forums; and support for

analysis, identifying risk due disasters and climate change,

the Joint Secretariat for Sustainable Palm Oil in North Sumatra

understanding watershed and hydrological dynamics.

headed by the Environmental Protection Agency comprised of

.

information

and

recommendations

about

private sector partners who meet frequently to discuss a range of environmental and best management practices.

5

SLP has established an online dashboard for landscape accounting in North Sumatra, to monitor trends and changes across key indicators that are aligned with objectives of the landscape model

Visualizing impact In related work, SLP has created a new decision support tool for

This framework brings together data from a range of credible

landscape accounting, with considerable scope for application

public data-sets, to report on dimensions of natural capital,

across Indonesia. SLP’s Landscape Accounting Framework (LAF)

sustainable production and also human well-being. SLP has

comprises a stakeholder engagement process for establishing

brought this data together for North Sumatra in an online

goals and key indicators, and a system that features an online

dashboard that government policy makers, the private sector

dashboard for stakeholders to monitor the status of the

and civil society can refer too as the basis for multi-stakeholder

landscape – either at the provincial level or the district level.

engagement on landscape trends and priorities.

6

SLP success story: Protected Areas anchor natural capital in a landscape The integrated landscape model recognizes that Protected Areas and

SLP’s approach to Protected Areas aims to

sustainable production can and should co-exist to enhance human

improve the management and protection

well-being. This highlights the importance of finding effective ways of

practices of high conservation value areas.

linking and managing landscapes that comprise both.

Work to date has included strategic reviews

Large areas of tropical forests in Indonesia are considered biodiversity

of Protected Area plans, reviewing status

hotspots with high conservation value. They shelter rare and

and identifying risks; supporting the use of

endangered species – such as the Sumatran tiger, orang-utans and the

Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tools (like

Birds of Paradise in West Papua – and they constitute a rich array of

SMART and METT/PAME) to measure and

ecosystems and peatlands that can store large amounts of

evaluate management effectiveness; as well

sequestered carbon from the atmosphere.

as the introduction of management support systems and tools that are implemented by local staff. In some cases, SLP has provided field equipment including GPS units and camera traps, to better equip local staff for monitoring and reporting functions.

For example, Batang Gadis National Park has already conducted systematic camera trapping

surveys; meanwhile

intensive

training and capacity building for spatial monitoring

and

reporting

has

been

extended to 12 other Protected Areas in North Sumatra.

SLP will continue to develop the capacity of staff in selected Protected Areas with further training. The next challenge is to explore ways of deepening and expanding the sphere of influence of Protected Areas within the broader landscape.

N AT U R A L C A P I TA L 7

Human well-being is derived from, and dependent upon, ecosystem services that natural capital provides

Sustainable production and human well-being are both derived

The promotion and development of FMUs within SLP landscapes

from, and dependent upon, the ecosystem services that natural

has involved extensive engagement with all levels of

capital provides. In order to protect critical ecosystems and the

government. SLP has worked closely with the Ministry of

services they provide, it is necessary to identify critical natural

Environment and Forestry to identify high priority FMUs and

capital within the landscape and ensure there is appropriate

confirm the model of management required for both production

management of these areas. Biodiversity is critical natural

and protection based forests. SLP has also provided the technical

capital.

support and facilitation capacity to support district government

The challenges

units to set up these FMUs with sound management plans.

Community conservation

Key challenges for managing natural capital in Indonesia include the ability to effectively address the inter-related drivers of

SLP has conducted extensive work on supporting community

deforestation that include: growing population pressure,

stewardship. A significant achievement in this regard has been

contested land and property rights, poor governance, increasing

establishment of over 30 Community Conservation Agreements

market demand for fast-growing agricultural crops, and the

(CCAs), which typically represents agreements that are made by

limited resources and capacity for enforcement of regulations

the community to observe particular conservation goals – for

around Protected Areas and the broader National forest estate.

example, no clearing of adjacent forest areas to plant new crops

Relatedly, there is limited recognition at present of the economic value of ecosystem services. As a result, there tends to be minimal incentives to protect natural capital particularly where there are other business-as-usual economic activities.

– while SLP and our partners have provided support including training for village farmers in better crop management that will increase yields, or establishing linkages to responsible supply chains that will pay a premium for higher grade products.

This may include the clearing of natural forests to establish

SLP views the CCAs as a pre-condition that establishes a

agriculture crops and plantations or extractive industries.

conducive context in which to engage in longer term support for

Forest management models

communities, to conserve the broader environment while providing

for

benefits

from

sustainable

and

improved

SLP has been working to address these challenges in a number of

production.

ways. In addition to its work in strengthening protection for high

SLP has also provided support for six new village forestry areas in

conservation value areas (see ‘Protected Areas’), SLP has

South Tapanuli District. Where a clearly defined area is

supported the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in

established that a community can access and use. SLP expects

promoting and developing FMUs for active forest management

this to lead to improved management of the forest over the

in the national estate, and also worked with local communities

longer term.

to facilitate Conservation Agreements in North Sumatra.

S U S TA I N A B L E P R O D U C T I O N 8

SLP promotes the diversification and intensification of production to increase landscape resilience and strengthen rural economies

SLP in Indonesia promotes the use of best practices in managing key commodity value chains that underpin production systems.

Best practices include zero deforestation, minimizing the ‘footprint’ and waste, through the intensification of or restoration of degraded lands. Commodity chains include not

Green supply chains SLP has actively promoted the concept and development of green supply chains, for the purpose of improving access to markets for sustainably produced products.

only large scale industrial production, but also small-holder and

SLP has engaged with private sector partners who provide

community production that underpins local economies.

farmers with market access and who help to explain what quality

Key challenges for sustainable production include limited access to information on improved production practices and improved technologies; limited understanding of quality and how it is defined; and limited knowledge of market needs and trends – these issues leads to low production, poor quality and limit bargaining power and missed opportunities to access markets

the market needs. To compliment this, SLP is developing a jurisdictional sourcing approach – the aim is to provide companies with an understanding of where they can source commodities from selected landscapes that meet certain quality and sustainability criteria. SLP advocates the use of the Landscape Accounting Framework to inform this approach.

SLP currently has memoranda of understanding with three

that will support sustainable farming.

partner companies that are supporting green supply chains for

Crop suitability studies

coffee, rubber and also palm oil crops.

SLP has conducted studies on crop suitability across the province of North Sumatra, and also assessed how crop suitability will potentially be impacted by future climate change.5 This work identified areas of the province that are likely to become progressively unsuitable for palm oil, coffee, cocoa and rubber production. SLP will continue to engage with the government, private sector, and smallholder farmers so that they recognize

As part of this direct engagement with producers, SLP is working with communities and farmers to improve production and incomes. This includes evaluating new purchasing models, such as more direct supply arrangements between farmers and processing facilities. Increasing efficiency will further strengthen the platform for supporting sustainable farming practices.

the need to consider what strategies might be most appropriate

SLP has also supported the convening of a Joint Secretariat for

to mitigate these potential risks.

Sustainable Palm Oil that meets on a regular basis to discuss

This and other science has been used as the foundation for a smallholder farmer training series called ‘Where the Farms meet the Forests’, which SLP is embedding within conventional smallholder

farmer

agribusiness

training.

SLP

has

also

incorporated these crop suitability studies and maps in both the SIAP and LAF for North Sumatra, for the use by stakeholders.

market issues and best practices in sustainable production. This MSF brings together some of the largest industry producers as well as smallholder and community producers in North Sumatra, to engage with leading practitioners and researchers on policy directions and technical aspects of sustainable production in Indonesia.

5 Smit, H., Tias, P. Hadiprakarsa, Y. (2014) Exploring Trade-Offs Between Conservation and Development in North Sumatra, Sustainable development strategies for rubber, cocoa, coffee and oil palm agriculture in North Sumatra. Commissioned to support the Sustainable Landscapes Partnership, Conservation International, Jakarta, Indonesia.

9

SLP case study: North Sumatra on a path to sustainable production Major cash crop products grown in North

Crop yields per hectare

Sumatra include palm oil, coffee, cocoa and rubber. SLP has conducted supply chain assessments for each of these constraints to competitiveness as well as identifying practices that can be improved.

The Landscape Accounting Framework (LAF) dashboard provides a sound basis for prioritizing

opportunities

to

increase

production across the landscape.

An example where improvements have been made is the tapping of rubber trees.

SLP identified many farmers who were tapping trees with sub-optimal techniques, inferior equipment and poor post-harvest handling – this resulted in both low productivity and poor quality. Added to this farmers were also cutting down rubber trees and replacing these with new plantings or different crops.

SLP has trained thousands of farmers in optimal

tapping

and

post

harvesting

handling techniques with many seeing a significant increase in productivity and income from the existing trees – this has also reduced clearing of the rubber-forest gardens and reduced emissions.

10

The challenge Establishing and maintaining sustainable landscapes will require ongoing sources of sustainable finance in the long term.

SLP is reviewing and developing new financing models – for reasons that include the fact that to-date, ecosystem services have been undervalued, and taken for granted. If natural capital is to be maintained there is a need to attribute an appropriate value to these resources, and to manage them accordingly.

There

is

scope

to

establish

fiscal

incentives for provinces and districts that take steps towards forest conservation.

These incentives may leverage existing government budgets or use trust fund mechanisms

to

support

forest

conservation.

Sustainable finance models also include mechanisms ecosystem

based on services

payment for

(PES),

and

the

development of low emission enterprises that can generate revenue and social benefits on a sustainable basis. SLP is working to test these models across landscapes and explore the scope for amplification.

S U S TA I N A B L E F I N A N C E 11

Landscapes require sustainable finance to ensure long-term viability of investments and their benefits to communities

Budget allocations

Payment for

Low Emission

and Fiscal drivers

Ecosystem Services

Enterprises

SLP

mainstream

To address the issue of natural capital

conservation goals into government

endeavours

to

being undervalued and potentially used

SLP through a grant provided funding

budgets and fiscal drivers. Despite the

unsustainably,

identified

and technical guidance for communities

available funds to reduce forest loss

models in which communities and the

in North Sumatra that are introducing

(REDD+, etc.) there is a lack of regional

private sector contribute directly to the

more efficient stoves to replace the

incentives for provinces and districts

maintenance of ecosystem services

smoky, fuel-hungry three-stone fires.

that support forest conservation and

they receive from the natural capital.

The benefits are several: reducing

SLP

has

harvesting of fuelwood; helping families

base their budget allocations on those measures.

SLP has scoped the development of

save money on cooking fuel; creating

‘Payment for Ecosystem Services’ (PES)

employment in marketing and selling

SLP has worked with local agencies to

models in North Sumatra to improve

the stoves; and improving the health of

leverage existing government budgets

the supply and quality of fresh water. In

women and children by reducing

to support management of forests (e.g.

South Tapanuli, SLP together with

exposure to air pollution.

local FMU accessing ministerial funds).

stakeholders has developed a model

SLP has drawn on international models

and district regulation supporting PES.

to advocate for the development of

The

fiscal

management are designed to generate

policies

that

link

budget

PES

models

for

allocations to natural capital. SLP is also

sustainable

exploring

fund

maintenance of ecosystem services, and

forest

means the people who utilize the

regional

mechanisms management.

to

trust support

financing

watershed for

the

service can enjoy a better quality of life through the ongoing supply of these services.

SLP is either actively exploring or supporting the development of new business

cases

for

potential

low-

emission enterprises, such as village forestry,

agribusiness

ecotourism

and

products,

non-timber

forest

products, which may be linked to finance (e.g. microfinance, Landscape Bonds, etc.) at favorable rates.

The role of our partners GOVERNMENT Because

all

landscapes

are

COMMUNITIES

embedded

in

Effective implementation of land use change is not

administrative units where planning decisions are

possible without directly involving the people who

made, it is critical that at all levels of government

are living within the areas and dependent upon

are effectively engaged to ensure there is

the landscapes. Local communities typically have

consistent policy and regulatory alignment with

the highest level of interaction with and

sustainable land uses and land use decisions.

dependence on ecosystem services.

SLP engages directly with the Ministry of

SLP has established multiple models for working

Environment and Forestry and other Ministries of

with communities, including Multi-Stakeholder

the Government of Indonesia, and works closely

Forums for sharing and discussing community

with the Provincial Governments and District

views, and the development of Community

Governments in North Sumatra and West Papua,

Stewardship Programs that realize benefits for

to ensure coordination and consistency of

communities through local conservation.

landscape activities.

P R I VAT E S E C T O R

CIVIL SOCIETY

The private sector plays a vital role in establishing

Civil

sustainable landscapes, by providing investment,

organisations and institutions, with particular

employment and innovation in products and

interests that may include environmental, social

services. In this way, the private sector plays a

and economic development issues. They represent

central role in the development of green supply

stakeholders in the landscape, at the local,

chains, with broad economic and social benefits

provincial or national level. They may also be

for communities and society.

partners in a range of landscape interventions,

SLP engages with the private sector through a range of Multi-Stakeholder Forums and Advisory Committees

that

have

focussed

on

the

development of green supply chains, the use and promotion of good agricultural practices, and integration of

conservation

sectors.

practices across

society

comprises

such as conducting studies across the landscape; facilitating broader stakeholder engagement; or contributing to the development of community business models and low emission enterprises. SLP has worked closely with civil society groups include

environmental

NGOs,

CONTACT US Let’s

socialize:

Pejaten Barat 16A Kemang, Jakarta 12550

@ConservationID

Phone:

@ConservationID

+62 21 7883 8626

Web: www.conservation.org

community

foundations and also universities in North Sumatra and West Papua.

Office:

non-government

Conservation International Indonesia Conservation International Indonesia