Conservation and culture: customary forest assessment in Jambi Province, Indonesia

Eko Waskito

The communities in Hulu Batang Asai have a basic knowledge of conservation, which can be seen in the principles of forest management in customary law. Their traditional forest areas link to Kerinci Seblat National Park, provide critical Sumatran tiger habitat and watershed functions. This area is threatened due to land clearing for plantation and by encroaching farmers. This project will work with three isolated villages to assess and document, for the first time, socioeconomic, cultural and biodiversity opportunities and threats; build community awareness and relationships with decision-makers; and develop a strategy for collaborative customary forest management to reduce threats to biodiversity and support local community prosperity.