West Sumatra community revives forest, boosts livelihoods
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Residents of Kamang Mudiak, West Sumatra, Indonesia, have successfully restored a previously degraded forest, improving both the environment and their economic wellbeing.
In the 1990s and 2000s, illegal logging and fires left hillsides barren, reduced water supplies, and limited rice harvests to once per year. Seeing the damage, community members began replanting the area.
The revitalized forest now supports around 1,000 hectares of irrigated rice paddies, allowing farmers like Ernita to harvest twice a year, a change from the single harvest she experienced fifteen years ago. The forest’s renewed density has increased moisture levels and replenished water sources. In 2018, the area was officially designated as Hutan Nagari Kamang Mudiak, a “Village Forest”, giving residents secure rights to manage their customary lands while ensuring the forest’s preservation, with support from KKI Warsi.
Beyond agriculture, villagers have diversified their income through sustainable forest products. A cooperative, KUPS Agroekowisata Sarasah Bukik Kincia, cultivates honey with around 30 beehives, producing 7 to 10 liters per month valued at approximately Rp400,000 per liter, and primarily employs women. Residents also harvest fruits like durian, cengkih (cloves), and mangosteen, and can sustainably harvest wood for personal use with permission from local leaders. The community manages the 2,800-hectare forest within the Indragiri Rokan River Basin.
