Conflict of Palm Oil Companies with Indigenous People and Forest Surrounding Society

Oil palm was one of profitable industrial crops. Oil palm high demand in industries encouraged new plantation field opening as oil palm plantation by means of forest conversion method. From land acquisition to oil palm plantation management, tenurial conflict often occurs. This article aimed to map some existing researches concerning conflict of palm oil companies with indigenous and surrounding forest community in Indonesia. This article uses systematic review method by using conflict-related keywords as assisting tool in filtering the data in order to acquire matching articles. Conflict of palm oil companies with indigenous people and surrounding forest community was distributed into four types. Type 1 was the conflict related to land acquisition and HGU permit. Type 2 was the conflict related to plasma plantation development and land compensation which would be used for plasma plantation. Type 3 was the conflict related to Broken Promises and Unfulfilled CSR Commitment. Type 4 was the conflict which occurred during plasma plantation management by cooperatives and companies for oil palm production (TBS and CPO). Keywords: conflict, plantation, palm oil, indigenous people, people surrounding society Intisari : Kelapa sawit merupakan salah satu produk tanaman industri yang menguntungkan. Tingginya permintaan kelapa sawit oleh pasar industri mendorong pembukaan lahan perkebunan baru untuk perkebunan kelapa sawit melalui konversi hutan. Konversi lahan sering terjadi konflik tenurial. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk memetakan penelitian-penelitian terdahulu mengenai konflik antara perusahaan perkebunan kelapa sawit dengan masyarakat adat/masyarakat sekitar hutan di Indonesia. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode sistematik review dengan menggunakan kata kunci sebagai alat bantu dalam proses penyaringan untuk mendapatkan artikel yang sesuai. Konflik antara perusahaan perkebunan kelapa sawit dengan masyarakat adat/masyarakat sekitar hutan dibagi menjadi empat tipe. Tipe 1 adalah konflik terkait akuisisi lahan dan perizinan HGU. Tipe 2 adalah konflik yang terjadi terkait pengembangan perkebunan plasma dan ganti rugi lahan yang akan digunakan untuk perkebunan plasma. Tipe 3 adalah konflik yang terjadi terkait janji yang tidak ditepati dan komitmen dari CSR yang tidak dipenuhi. Tipe 4 adalah konflik yang terjadi dalam pengelolaan kebun plasma oleh koperasi dan perusahaan untuk menghasilkan kelapa sawit (TBS dan CPO). Kata Kunci: kelapa sawit, konflik, masyarakat adat, masyarakat sekitar hutan perkebunan

Reducing ecological risk from the impacts of introduced exotic species in forestry industry: Limiting the invasiveness through a management and biological practices in Acacias plantation in Indonesia

Balance benefit of ecological, economic, and social is a part of sustainable forest management. Industrial forest plantation is one of the ecological practices through increasing land cover to provide a good impact for economic and social. Introducing suitable species for industry from out of regions is commonly practiced in the plantation. In Indonesia, some Acacias species have been recognized as major plantation species to meet industrial requirements that are economically feasible, suited to major end-product, high productivity, and fast growth. However, some studies have classified the Acacias as exotic species which potentially show an invasive. Taking into account such invasiveness and anticipating ecological risk, this paper presents some considerations on plantation management and biological practices of the Acacias. Compromises among the reproductive system, growth, and rotation in the plantation management could limit the invasiveness. Besides high stand productivity, results from genetic and breeding could also provide a positive impact to diminish the reproductive process of trees that consequently reduce seeds in the Acacias plantation and limit its invasiveness. It concludes that some considerations and a good understanding of biological factors in plantation management practices could reduce ecological risk from the invasiveness of Acacias, and even it could be used for increasing plantation productivity.

Rekomendasi Pengelolaan Perkebunan Kopi Rakyat di Kabupaten Kepahiang

Coffee as one of export commodities requires a good management strategy to maintain its continuity while also increasing both quality and quantity, for example by developing more efficient agricultural techniques. The purpose of this study was to reveal the knowledge of farmers in Taba Tebelet Village about a good smallholder coffee plantation management and give priority to coffee plantation management recommendations. A survey was required to collect primary and secondary data. Observation results and structured interviews were considered as primary data and secondary data were supporting data used for qualitative analysis. The technique used for data collection through survey was called snowball technique which was based on the random sample selection method. The focus of recommendations for good smallholder coffee plantation management in Kepahiang Regency was obtained through SWOT analysis, then to determine the priority of those management recommendations using QSPM (Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix) analysis. The SWOT analysis has resulted 4 recommendations of management. They were (1) intensive and organic farming (TAS 1.36); (2) conducting training/counseling on organizational and plantation management (TAS 0.63); (3) legality of coffee quality (TAS 0.22); and (4) public-private partnership related to the procurement of production input for coffee plantations (TAS 0.46). The priority for a coffee plantation management strategy was determined based on the order of TAS value (Total Attractive Score), where the implementation of the highest score should be prioritized in overcoming deficiencies and threats that occur in coffee plantations

Urgensity of Environmental Management System Implementation on Oil Palm Plantation Management Policies in North Sumatera

The development of oil palm plantations and its expansion as well, ensured potentially give impact on the environment. A standardized environmental management system is required by companies to develop and implement environmental aspects. This research is classified as a qualitative research with a case study which emphasizes potential environmental impacts analysis of oil palm plantations and the urgency of environmental management systems in oil palm plantation management policies in North Sumatra. The research results showed that there were potential environmental impacts began pre-construction, construction and operational stages related to oil palm plantations development such as erosion, changes of sustainable and quantity of water, plant pests distribution, diseases and weeds, changes in soil fertility, potential social conflicts and the emergence of the spread of plant diseases endemic and disruption of water infiltration function in peat areas. In addition, it affected environmental factors including ecosystem condition, hydrology, landscape, and resident’s attitude around the plantation. Alternative policies which be carried out related to environmental preservation and community welfare are (1) agro-industrial development policies that process oil and palm oil waste, (2) Moratorium (temporary suspension) of illegal logging, (3) Establish policy synergies and improve communication between government agencies and institutions, (4) reduce conflicts over land freehold by reforming above the law.

A Dynamic Stand Growth Model System for Loblolly Pine Responding to Mid-Rotation Treatments

Intensive loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation management in the southeastern United States includes mid-rotation silvicultural practices (MRSP) like thinning, fertilization, competitive vegetation control, and their combinations. Consistent and well-designed long-term studies considering interactions of MRSP are required to produce accurate projections and evaluate management decisions. Here we use longitudinal data from the regional Mid-Rotation Treatment study established by the Plantation Management Research Cooperative (PMRC) at the University of Georgia across the southeast U.S. to fit and validate a new dynamic model system rooted in theoretical and biological principles. A Weibull pdf was used as a modifier function coupled with the basal area growth model. The growth model system and error projection functions were estimated simultaneously. The new formulation results in a compatible and consistent growth and yield system and provides temporal responses to treatment. The results indicated that the model projections reproduce the observed behavior of stand characteristics. The model has high predictive accuracy (the cross-validation variance explained was 96.2%, 99.7%, and 98.6%; and the prediction root mean square distance was 0.704 m, 19.1 trees ha−1, and 1.03 m2ha−1 for dominant height (DH), trees per hectare (N), and basal area (BA), respectively), and can be used to project the current stand attributes following combinations of MRSP and with different thinning intensities. Simulations across southern physiographic regions allow us to conclude that the most overall ranking of MRSP after thinning is fertilization + competitive vegetation control (Fert + CVC) > fertilization only (Fert) > competitive vegetation control only (CVC), and Fert + CVC show less than additive effect. Because of the model structure, the response to treatment changes with location, age of application, and dominant height growth as indicators of site quality. Therefore, the proposed model adequately represents regional growth conditions.

Persistence of the Swiss Needle Cast Outbreak in Oregon Coastal Douglas-Fir and New Insights from Research and Monitoring

Swiss needle cast (SNC), caused by Nothophaeocryptopus gaeumannii, is a foliage disease of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), that reduces growth in native stands and exotic plantations worldwide. An outbreak of SNC began in coastal Oregon in the mid-1990s and has persisted since that time. Here we review the current state of knowledge after 24 years of research and monitoring, with a focus on Oregon, although the disease is significant in coastal Washington and has recently emerged in southwestern British Columbia. We present new insights into SNC distribution, landscape patterns, disease epidemiology and ecology, host-pathogen interactions, trophic and hydrologic influences, and the challenges of Douglas-fir plantation management in the presence of the disease. In Oregon, the SNC outbreak has remained geographically contained but has intensified. Finally, we consider the implications of climate change and other recently emerged foliage diseases on the future of Douglas-fir plantation management. Study Implications: Douglas-fir tree growers need to consider Swiss needle cast (SNC) and other emerging foliage diseases as SNC has not abated over the past 24 years, and along with other emerging diseases, it continues to pose a threat to Douglas-fir plantation productivity. Douglas-fir management in western Oregon remains important, such that a knowledge of disease impacts and effective silvicultural responses is key. Managers should carefully consider whether alternative species may be ecologically or economically beneficial in some situations while tree improvement programs must continue to breed for tolerance to SNC. Research shows that regional scale foliage disease outbreaks can result in trophic cascades and hydrologic changes that affects more than just the trees. The environmental controls on the SNC epidemic imply that climate change could strongly influence future directions of the outbreak, with the greatest threats to trees at higher elevations.

“Known To Be Equal to the Management”

Enslaved overseers have largely been neglected in the extant historiography of plantation slavery. At best they have been pushed to the margins of the literature, their numbers and their significance downplayed. Yet, as large plantations diversified over the latter years of the eighteenth century, and as relations between established planters and independently minded and aspirational white overseers became prone to mistrust and friction, many prominent modernizing planters, including both Washington and Jefferson, began to experiment with unfree managers. They often proved to be skilled, dependable and, even under the pressure of the Revolutionary War, resilient. Yet their presence raised serious questions within plantation society too; they challenged white racial hegemony, and their ‘loyalty’ was a conditional and contingent quality. They occupy a unique place in the story of plantation management, one that challenges orthodox conceptions of race and power in the slave South.