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Abstract:
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"Indonesia possesses one of the most extensive areas of primary tropical forest. At the same time it has the highest deforestation rate worldwide. The typical pattern of economic development in the forest margins in Indonesia translates into logging exploitation first, followed by plantation development, with little concern about the needs of local communities. To a smaller degree conservation strategies are also pursued, but they are mostly geared toward global needs and objectives.
"The constellation of property rights arrangements in the forest margins, with a mix of overlapping, uncertain, changing claims to land and resources, has a profound impact on the use and management of forests and on the well-being of people living in the forest margins.
"This study is based on research conducted in 2006-2007 in 10 villages in two locations of the outer Islands in Indonesia. The two locations differ in term of forest cover allowing to compare outcomes in forest rich versus forest poor districts. Data used in this study refer to community level and household level information on local institutions, community and households related to property rights to forest resources, dependence on forest resources, local rules and regulations on forest use and were part of a more extensive survey work.
"The aim of the study is to assess how conflicting legal frameworks and resulting actual property rights relations, affect forest management and well-being of local villagers, in two areas that present differing forest conditions.
"Findings bring to light considerable differences between pre-logging and post-logging conditions in relations to property rights and well-being. The study also highlights that local needs are not always in line with both national policy guidelines as well as global conservation concerns. Although based on local level data, the results of the study are interpreted in the light of national policy processes and future economic development goals and strategies of the Indonesian government. Some important policy implications are drawn in particular with regard to statutory property rights arrangements in the forest margins in Indonesia and the role that these play in excluding local people from contributing and fully participating in national development strategies."
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