Existing Information Campaign of EFForTS for Promoting Tree Enrichment in Oil Palm Plantation

Promoting Biodiversity Enrichment in Smallholder Oil Palm Monocultures

Background on information campaign: In June 2015, a group of EFForTS-researchers held focus group discussion with smallholders in Jambi province to learn about the local smallholders’ knowledge of agroforestry systems in oil palm plantation (Romero et al.^[4]). The researchers learned that such knowledge is very limited. Nevertheless, smallholders are interested in tree enrichment plantings. The smallholders associate benefits with trees, such as access to fruits, timber and environmental benefits. However, the smallholders complain about not having access to tree seedlings, since seed markets are missing.

According to Romero et al.^[4], other studies have also shown that the land conversion for oil palm cultivation is strongly motivated by the potential profit of oil palms. So, to promote biodiversity enrichments in oil palm monocultures, it is necessary to provide economic incentives (e.g., subsidies for certain land-use types). Due to the profits of oil palms, this can be very expensive, though.

Overall, Romero et al.^[4] state that it is necessary to overcome the structural barriers (potential economic losses and lacking seed markets) and change the smallholders’ mindset (lack of knowledge). The goal is to promote a biodiversity-friendly management of the oil palm plantations. The smallholders’ mindset is strongly affected by the known oil palm cultivation practice. So, smallholders need to learn about the consequences of oil palm monocultures and possible alternatives. Additionally, it is important to create a social consensus within the communities. To inform about possible alternatives and achieve this change, researchers developed two approaches which were tested in 36 villages in Jambi that cultivate oil palms.

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Figure 1: Effect of information and seedling provision on tree planting in oil palm plantations.© EFForTS C08

After reading this short introduction on making research available for smallholders, please read the following article:

• Romero et al.

For additional information, you can also consider the following article, which was one of the articles to read in Module II.

• Rudolf et al.