• According to the land cover analysis conducted in 2022, Bahaur had 32.6% (4,388.08 hectares) of its total land area designated as a protected area. Specifically, the land included 88.06% (3,864.33 hectares) allocated for forest and peat protection.
• In Bahaur, 67.3% (9,041.59 hectares) of the cultivated land is allocated to oil palm plantation, with an additional 19.10% dedicated to community independent plantations, which are distributed within the oil palm cultivation area.
• Bahaur village's unwavering commitment to transitioning into a certification village, prompted by the extensive prevalence of oil palm in their land cover, signifies a profound dedication to the principles of responsible and sustainable agricultural practices. This endeavor seeks to harmonize economic development with ecological and social responsibility, contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future.
• Following a land use evaluation, Bahaur Village is firmly committed to preserving the forests within its jurisdiction. Given that most of this region is situated within the state forest, through social forestry encompassing 216.35 hectares, as well as a community forest that extends across 439.25 hectares. Both of these initiatives have already been officially registered, and they are currently in the process of administrative registration submission. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is actively engaged in community outreach and on-site surveys. At present, beyond the forested region, a 756.32 hectare area is under the APL (Alternative Land Use) protection scheme. Their operations are currently at the administrative registration, public awareness, and on-site survey phase. The issuance of the SK (Official Decision Letter) is the responsibility of the village head.
• As part of Gawi Bapakat program, Bahaur has committed to pursue sustainability. They have put in place several efforts to manage the land sustainably, protect human rights and also monitor deforestation and fire.

Intervention Details
Conservation Village:

• Total area under social forestry : 216.35 hectares
• Total area under community forestry : 439.25 hectares
• Total area supported as an incentive : 1 hectares
• Type of supports : Patrolling forest cover areas, preventing deforestation and forest fires, and promoting incentive programs: alternative livelihoods in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock.
• Technology introduced : The use of Android-based map applications (Avenza Maps and Gaia GPS) for marking security patrol points in the area.

Impact :
Through the Gawi Bapakat program, local communities will be given a range of incentives and opportunities for alternative livelihoods that are aimed at promoting long-term sustainability.

Next steps:

• Establishing the criteria and conditions for the allocation of incentives.
• The safeguarding and conservation efforts aimed at preserving the integrity and sustainability of social forestry and APL (Other Land Use) proposed areas.

Quote:
"It is essential to maintain the forest's protection due to the presence of palm oil companies surrounding our village. Moreover, the presence of peatlands in certain parts of the forest makes it financially burdensome to set up oil palm plantations, primarily due to the increased capital investment needed." - Mr. Abdul Rajab, Bahaur Village Head.