Development of agroforestry oil palm for peatland restoration in Jambi Province: establishing process and initial results

Rapid degradation of peatland forest in Indonesia is caused by conversion into plantation forest and agriculture land, including oil palm plantation by farmers. Restoration of peatland is then needed with involvement of local farmers as main stakeholder. This paper presents establishment process and initial result from an action research on peatland restoration using biodiversity enrichment experiment in existing oil palm smallholder plantation to develop oil palm agroforestry. The experiment was established in Sinar Wajo Village, Tanjung Jabung Timur Regency, Jambi Province in which 30 plots in sizes of 25m(2), 100 m(2), and 400 m(2) placed systematically over about 21 ha oil palm plantation belong to a group of farmers. There were 1,180 trees of 6 species, i.e. blangeran (Shorea blangeran), pinang (Areca pinanga), petai (Parkia speciosa), durian (Durio zibethinus), jengkol (Archidendron pauciflorum), and kopi liberika (Coffea liberica) with 0, 3, and 6 diversity levels, created tree island on the sea of oil palms. Approach to local leaders was very important for the initiation of the action research. Focus group discussion with farmer group, provision of seedlings and labour wages were conducted to ensure farmer willingness of participation. Capacity building, such as training on tree cultivation, bio-fertilizer production and study tour was conducted as incentive for farmers. The initial result of plant growth measurement from experiment plots showed 21 months after planting many planted trees grew well. Blangeran as native species of peatland forest showed the best growth performance. Pinang, Kopi Liberika and Durian were also showed relatively good growth performance. Only Petai and Jengkol showed less growth performance. High farmer participation on the establishment of oil palm agroforestry as peatland restoration model was mostly driven by provision of incentives. Oil palm agroforestry is a promising model for restoration of already planted by oil palm peatland area, and involving farmers is important factor for the success of peatland restoration through appropriate social approaches.