Sustainable Estate Management of Plantation and Local Economic

Strengthening

Arman

Universitas Trilogi, Duren Kalibata Street No. 1, Indonesia

Keywords: Management, Plantation, Sustainable, Local Economy.

Abstract: The use of oil palm plantations has increased tremendously in 2012-2016. Unfortunately, there are still

many lands that have not been managed sustainably. Furthermore, economic influences have an effect on

increasing the area of oil palm cultivation by local people. The aims of this study are: (1) To describe the

use of oil palm plantations and (2) To examine the use of plantations to strengthen the local economy. This

research uses qualitative method through in-depth interview approach and questionnaire. The results showed

that the utilization of plantations has not been done sustainably. Land clearing often begins by burning the

land without considering the environmental and economic impacts of health. This is done because of

economic and time motives. Land clearing by burning will speed up the process of land use and

management while reducing economic costs. Furthermore, land burning is often on peat so as to provide

greater economic, environmental and health effects. On the other hand, land use for plantations is a

community effort to generate income while strengthening the local economy.

1 INTRODUCTION

This study aims to (1) describe the use of plantations

and (2) examine the use of plantations to strengthen

the local economy. The development and needs of

the larger plantations become one of the things

happening in West Kalimantan. Many people are

hoping and relying on plantation land to earn income

and strengthen the local economy. This is the factor

that causes the agricultural sector into a strategic one

in West Kalimantan.

The agricultural sector (including plantations,

forestry and fishery) is the largest sector to absorb

labor. Approximately 1.11 million or equivalent to

48.63% of the total workforce relies on the sector as

a source of income. On the other hand the number of

poor people ranged from 7.87% (381.35 thousand),

while the number of unemployed was 100,935

thousand and employed as housewives of 637,486

people (equivalent to 60.29% from 1.05 million

instead of labor force (BPS, 2017). As noted, the

number of unemployment is relatively small which

is influenced by the absorptive capacity of

agricultural labor. It indicates that the agricultural

sector has a strategic role to economic development,

especially to overcome unemployment and poverty.

Unfortunately, agricultural cultivation activities,

especially in land management are often

unsustainable and sustainable. One example is the

management of peat lands that are not sustainable

and do not follow the rules of the environment. In

2015, the burned area reached 167,691 hectares,

with burnt peat area is 74.858 hectares. Furthermore,

in 2016, the area of burnt peat is 600 hectares. The

impact of the fire caused many people affected by

Acute Gastrointestinal Infection disease (BRG

Kontigensi Plan, 2017).

Currently, the area of exploitation and cultivation

of oil palm plantations is very wide. The cultivated

area is 1.05 million Ha by large plantations and

407.41 thousand hectares by smallholdings (BPS,

2017). This shows that the utilization of acreage for

oil palm plantations in West Kalimantan is vast.

However, the utilization and management of oil

palm is still largely done in an unsustainable and

sustainable, especially in the peat area. Land

clearing is often done by burning land. This is done

for cost and time reasons but does not consider the

ecosystem, economic and health impacts.

Tacooni (2003) explains that the impact of the

damage is caused by the management, development

and utilization of peat lands that pay less attention to

ecosystems and sustainability. Some of the impacts

436

Arman, .

Sustainable Estate Management of Plantation and Local Economic Strengthening.

DOI: 10.5220/0009022300002297

In Proceedings of the Borneo International Conference on Education and Social Sciences (BICESS 2018), pages 436-440

ISBN: 978-989-758-470-1

are first, the disruption of the hydrological function

of peat, when the hydrological function of peat lands

is disturbed; the important role of peat in the water

cycle is also disrupted. This can cause peat lands to

dry up and ignite fires. Second is the disruption of

ecological functions. Peatland degradation can

threaten the existence of hundreds of species of trees

and animals. Furthermore, excessive burning of peat

lands can increase CO

emissions. If the fire is

frequent then the impacts are (1) changes in the

physical quality of the peat along with the decrease

in moisture and porosity, (2) disruption of the

decomposition process, (3) damage to the

hydrological cycle, (4) change in peat chemistry

quality, (5) disruption of succession or population

development and composition of forest vegetation

thereby decreasing biodiversity and (6) global

warming. The third impact is socioeconomic loss,

where the loss includes (1) health problems, (2)

economic loss, (3) disturbed community activity and

(4) causes death from respiratory problems.

The high demand for land and the large number

of people who rely on agriculture have an impact on

land occupancy, both peat land and forestry. The

unsustainable land occupation technique is triggered

by economic factors. Sustainable land clearing takes

a long time and costs are quite expensive. This

causes some people who have no cost, preferring to

burn land. The shrinking social attachment, mutual

trust, cooperation and mutual cooperation lead to

higher social and economic costs. Social security

systems that should be inherent in culture are further

undermined by modernization. The age of

modernization puts money as a tool of society. The

attitude of cohesiveness, trust, reciprocity and

cooperation (Fukuyama 1999, Putnam, 2000), is

slowly declining.

Indeed, to overcome social problems requires

social cohesiveness and trust. Strong social

cohesiveness and trust reinforce social solidarity and

community participation to deal collectively with

common obstacles and goals. This is where the

importance of social capital must grow in

community communities as a strong social glue

(Fukuyama 1995). Social capital can create mutual

trust and enlarge social exchange and create

efficiency in many ways.

Another word that social capital must create is a

harmonious relationship between the perpetrators in

order to maintain the relationship between the actors

or the network (safety net) (Woolcock, 2001).

Heintzman (2001) says the strength of dialogue

conducted based on honesty plays a crucial role to

increase the wider value of public services.

Fukuyama (1995) asserts that the family is an

important source of social capital.

Thus the utilization of oil palm plantations to

strengthen the local economy can be pursued by

strengthening social capital and community

participation. The role of the family plays an

important role to start land use. Strong social capital

can help to reduce land use unsustainably. Land can

be cultivated together and take turns without having

to think about labor costs. All the owners of the

garden together feel responsible for sustainably

cultivating the land. Furthermore, collective and

group cultivation of land becomes a collective

agreement to strengthen social and interdependent

exchanges. The next social exchange is tied with

mutual trust and honesty. This will reduce negative

behavior towards land use. Group strength can

produce a large positive effect to strengthen

community participation.

Unfortunately, social capital is increasingly

eroded, resulting in less community participation in

developing and managing oil palm plantations in

some areas of West Kalimantan. Land use is further

fueled by economic considerations without

considering environmental impacts. Some people

use land but they do not have consider insocial,

health and environmental risks. Economic pressure

and high dependence on land force some of them to

use less sustainable land.

Another trigger for the cause of land occupancy

is the government regulation that has not been able

to be implemented for the perpetrators of land

burners. Although Presidential Regulation No. 1 of

2016 has been issued concerning the Restoration

Agency that is responsible for addressing peat land

issues. However, the regulation has not had much

influence in overcoming the problem of occupation

and public awareness.

The government needs to re-establish social

capital and develop natural resources. Strengthening

the capacity of community-based communities with

social capital needs to be socialized to the

community. One of the things that can be developed

as an alternative economic source is the

development of ecotourism through strengthening

community capacity (Damayanti et al, 2014).

Furthermore, the government needs to regenerate

local wisdom through community assistance and

capacity building. Prayogo (2016) says local

community knowledge that needs to be grown to the

community is (1) utilizing tidal movement for

irrigation and drainage, (2) determination of crops

planted around irrigation, (3) water conservation

with tabat system, (4) land selection system (5) land

Sustainable Estate Management of Plantation and Local Economic Strengthening

437

preparation and land preparation systems, (6) land

management systems, (7) soil fertility management

systems, and (8) farmers' way of identifying seasons.

The government is not present to change the system

but as a facilitator who accompanies the community

by utilizing existing local wisdom (Prayogo, 2016).

Furthermore, community participation in

peatlands should encourage communities' ability to

optimize the use of natural resources on peatlands

without damaging the environment. Community

participation in peatland management by farmers in

Kalampangan village, among others; making

trenches around the planting grounds to prevent the

occurrence of peat fires and prevent drought,

implementation of peat water management by the

government, the use of ash and fertilizers in

improving peatland fertility, and transfer of

knowledge about agriculture, cropping and farming

equipment to local communities (Hakim and

Anjarwati, 2010).

The study emphasizes the importance of

strengthening social cohesiveness, social capital and

community participation on sustainable use of palm

oil plantations. On the other hand, the active role of

the community is directly involved through

strengthening the capacity needed by the

community.

2 METHODOLOGY

This research uses qualitative method through in-

depth interview technique to palm oil planter. Some

of the areas where the research is Mempawah, Kubu

Raya and Sambas districts. Several areas were

surveyed in Mempawah Regency among others is

the District Anjungan, District Mempawah Timur

(Village Segigih) and District Siantan (precisely

Dusun Parit Ambo Pinang) and the Location of the

District surveyed in Sambas District is Kecamatan

Teluk Keramat (Kumpai River Village).

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Socio-cultural profiles around peatlands in general

are the livelihood of horticulture and palm oil

plantations as well as part of rubber plantations.

Several areas that become the research destination

are Anjongan Subdistrict, District of Mempawah

Timur and Siantan Subdistrict in Mempawah

District. Furthermore, Kubu Sub-district in Kubu

Raya Regency and Teluk Bay District of Sambas

Regency. Each region has different characteristics.

Anjongan District has wet peat conditions. Surveys

in Anjongan sub-district are not specific to a

particular village but see a general stretch of land in

the area. Field observation took place by conducting

interviews with farmers during the survey.

In general, the condition of peatlands in

Anjongan subdistrict is overgrown by scrub and oil

palm plantations. Most of the land conditions are

still vet. In this area there are many areas of food

crops and oil palm plantations. The cultivation of oil

palm plantation has long been held, where most of

the owners are local people. The main sources of

livelihood are food crops and oil palm plantations.

Food crops such as rice and oil palm plantations are

livelihoods that strengthen the local economy of the

community. This area had a fire in August 2017. The

area of the peat area which was estimated to burn

around 10 hectares. The cause of the fire is triggered

by the dry season, weather and strong winds. This

causes the fire to spread rapidly. Furthermore, water

sources around burnt peat areas are absent.

Furthermore, the burned area has not been vegetated

in large numbers so it is very easy to experience land

fires.

The condition of other peat areas in Mempawah

Regency, precisely in Siantan District shows that

some of the land in the area is used for the

cultivation of coconut and paddy fields. Field survey

results show in Dusun Parit Ambo Pinang that

people use peatlands as coconut cultivation areas

and rice fields. The area of coconut plantations is

more than 20 hectares, far wider than the area of oil

palm plantations. Coconut plantations become the

main source of livelihoods as well as the local

economic drivers of the community. Furthermore,

the cultivation of rice fields to support food needs as

well as a source of income.

In Mempawah District there are large scale

companies that process the coconut production of

the community. The factory buys the product to be

processed into derivative products. Furthermore, the

community has relatively long cultivated coconut as

a source of livelihood. Peatlands are suitable for

planting coconut and wetland rice. Both plants

maintain the quality of the soil and do not damage

the ecosystem and the environment. Coconuts can be

cultivated intercropping in an unlimited time. The

cultivation process does not interfere with the

productivity of coconut plants as the main source of

local economy. The intercropping method can

increase additional income for farmers. However,

intercropping is still not done much by farmers in

Siantan District.

BICESS 2018 - Borneo International Conference On Education And Social

438

In addition to utilizing other areas for rice fields,

coconut plantations can actually be processed by

intercropping. Vegetable plants and horticulture can

be intercrops to add additional income to farmers.

Furthermore, the intercrops can add nutrients to the

soil, increase the organic matter content and soil

fertility. In the long term it can improve soil and

ecosystem quality.

The condition of other peatlands in Mempawah

District of Mempawah Timur District in Sejegi

Village has relatively similar condition with peat

condition in Siantan Subdistrict. Peat conditions of

Sejegi Village still has alkaline and some peat areas

are overgrown with shrubs. The vegetation condition

is still tight. But in this area there has been a fire 3

years ago. The area of burning peat is 9 hectares.

Initial fires occur in peat areas without vegetation.

Fires quickly spread due to the wind and very hot

weather conditions resulting in huge smoke pools.

These experiences and events indicate that peat areas

that do not vegetate during the dry season are

flammable.

In contrast to Kumpai River Village, Teluk

Kramat District, Sambas Regency, where the area

utilizes peatlands for plantations, rice fields and

horticulture. The area of peatland use is very visible.

In this region there is often fire every year.

Generally, it caused by the clearing of land for rice

crops and plantations. The condition of peat in this

region is still wet and some areas have dense

vegetation. People who use land for plantation and

rice fields are local people.

In general, land clearing for the utilization of

peat land as plantation land has not been carried out

sustainably. Some people open plantation land

individually by burning without regard to

environmental rules. Land clearing by burning is

highly vulnerable and at risk of creating larger fires

because it does not (1) make the perimeter of the

land, (2) does not provide prevention by making

absorbing wells and (3) no permits from the

authorities. Unsustainable land use gives long-term

effects to the ecosystem, so there needs to be special

handling and involvement of all components of

government and society.

Peatland ecosystems must be preserved for

sustainability and social welfare. The area is actually

assessing the strength of the local economy but still

sustainable from the environment. It is time to

manage the peat area back to local wisdom to

maintain ecosystem sustainability and strengthen the

local economy of the community. Peatlands should

be used as common property goods, not private

goods. Peatland degradation is not only detrimental

to the ecosystem but destroys wider social,

economic and environmental institutions. Therefore,

the management of peatlands needs to pay attention

to local wisdom.

Public participation and participation is needed

to preserve peat through local wisdom approach.

Farming is a livelihood of the people of West

Kalimantan, especially most of the Dayaks. Farming

is carried out in a cycle so that the fields that have

been used and left by their owners will still be used

at a time when the time comes. Real land clearance

always involves the whole community by way of

mutualcooperation. There are traditional leaders who

lead the peatland clearance process (this method has

not been applied in the survey location).

Furthermore, the results of inter-community

consultation carried out the opening of the land by

burning carefully and mutual cooperation. The area

to be burned is limited so as not to extend to other

areas. So that the burning of the area is not

widespread then the edge of the field is made with a

bulkhead with a distance of about 1 to 3 meters.

Some communities still provide a water reservoir to

prevent if the area of fire expands. Currently mutual

cooperation has experienced deterioration so that

land clearing by burning is often not well controlled.

Most of the land clearing does not (1) make the

bulkhead on the edge of the land (2) pay less

attention to weather conditions and (3) not provide a

pool of water storage and (4) do not work together.

Most people think that burning land can be easier,

more cost-effective and effective in terms of time.

However, among them have not noticed the

environmental, economic, health and ecosystem

damage caused by unsustainable land burning

Therefore, local governments actually increase

community participation in managing land

sustainably. The involvement and role of

government is through assistance and capacity

building of human resources. Furthermore, the

government and society need to re-transform the

value of local wisdom that has been degraded by

modernization.

Active community participation is crucial

because agricultural land is already a major source

of income and local economic power. Community

participation can begin with assistance by the

government and build mutual trust between

communities. The whole community must

understand that land as an economic source must be

preserved. If there is damage to land, the economic

source of the community will be disturbed.

Therefore, people's trust attitude should grow

deeper. This will create a stronger social

Sustainable Estate Management of Plantation and Local Economic Strengthening

439

cohesiveness when fellow citizens have a trust

attitude. Furthermore, social exchange (reciprocity)

must continue to be promoted to create a sense of

interdependence between communities so as to

further strengthen the sense of community solidarity.

Furthermore, land management is actually done

in groups and mutual cooperation to reduce

maintenance costs and increase a sense of solidarity.

Communities need to receive in-depth training on

the importance of maintaining ecosystem balance

and long-term effects if ecosystems cannot be

maintained properly. Assistance and capacity

building must be sequenced and sustained and

evaluated for the sustainability of communities using

land sustainably and strengthening the local

economy through sustainable land management.

4 CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study show that plantation

utilization has not been carried out sustainably. Land

clearing often begins with burning land without

considering economic and health environmental

impacts. This is done because of consideration of

economic motives and time. On the other hand, the

use of land for plantations is an effort by the

community to earn income while strengthening the

local economy. The government needs to participate

in increasing community participation in managing

the land sustainably. The role of the government

includes mentoring for the community and

strengthening capacity. Furthermore, the

government needs to re-explore local knowledge

owned by the community to strengthen community

cohesiveness and solidarity. They must build trust

and mutual cooperation to utilize land sustainably.

Furthermore, the community must be aware that the

land they have as a source of income and the

strength of the local economy will be threatened if

they do not manage the land sustainably.

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