Dear Forester,
One fact that amazing for me that forest people area in Java more wide than state forest (Perhutani). About 2.709.000 ha for forest people and 2.500.000 ha for state forest (http://dipantara.net). Could give 70million m3 log annually for supplying wood industry.
For 2 years work involved in forest people at East Java, I want to share
original view from forest farmer. Just original view, not academic view or business or government.
What are farmer plant at their land?
I would like to say monoculture and multiculture. More rich farmer plant falcata/sengon monoculture but poor farmer would like plant multiculture between commercial trees, non commercial trees, and food, fruit grass for their cattle. Commercial trees mostly depending of what their neighbor planted, high price, easy sell at stumpage/trees price. Mostly are fast growing species (falcata, balsa) although there are medium (mahoni, gmelina, jabon) and long age (teak).
Where?
They plant at their self land. Rice at ricefield and trees at yard. Rich farmer have more 1 hectare of yard at some place but poor farmer just one place and smaller.
Who?
Poor farmer plant their self and some time make self seedling with their family, wife and children. Rich farmer pay to other for planting and buy the seed.
Very poor farmer join sharing with rich farmer in plantation. They have land and the rich farmer buy seed and give plantation and maintenance cost. After harvesting share 50:50 or like first agreement.
Why?
Poor farmer cut or sell trees when they need some money for their child school, when sick, rebuild their home, or other. If they need just Rp. 500.000 so they only need 1-2 of bigest trees to sell. The customer buy in trees and pay cash before cut the trees.
If they need big money they sell of their commercial trees although small/young trees. Old trees could be cut directly by customer but the small one could be cut 2-3 next years.
One word for this fact is that
The Trees are Their Bank
They plant fruit and food under trees for monthly cashflow,
They plant grass and tree live for their cattle foot daily,
They plant bamboo for keep their land from erotion and some money or use their self.
They plant not commercial trees at the corner of their land as mark and boundery.
They plant fast growing commercial trees for annual cash flow or immediately cash flow
They plant long age trees for decades cash flow or use their self for rebuilt home.
Just simple management.
How?
For this question, you should come here with us. Let say Forest People for Tourism
Reference:
1. self experiences.
2. http://dipantara.net
3. http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2554933&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
