In 2021, Bahaur Village in Central Kalimantan launched an ecosystem restoration project to address the degradation of land caused by extensive agricultural activities, particularly for oil palm plantations. This degradation has reduced the land’s ability to provide crucial environmental services and increased the risk of disasters like fires and floods. The restoration initiative focuses on recovering degraded lands and enhancing biodiversity.
Land cover analysis conducted in 2022 revealed that 32.6% (4,388.08 hectares) of Bahaur’s land is designated as a protected area, with 88.06% (3,864.33 hectares) allocated for forest and peatland conservation. However, 67.3% (9,041.59 hectares) of the cultivated land is used for oil palm plantations, and 19.10% for community independent plantations.
The restoration process in Bahaur Village began with a free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) process to ensure that villagers were fully informed and supportive of the project. Following the FPIC, the Village Head issued a decree to form a restoration team, and community meetings were held to design the restoration efforts, select areas for rehabilitation, and choose tree species that balance ecological, economic, and social functions.
An ecosystem restoration initiative covering ten hectares was implemented by the Bahaur Village Restoration Team, which included six local farmers. A total of 1,602 trees were planted, including species such as arenga palm, rambutan, sengon, soursop, djenkol (Archidendron pauciflorum), durian, sweet chestnut, balangeran, and Indonesian bay leaf. The team received incentives in the form of plant seedlings, with species proportioned for different functions: 23.6% (ecological), 8.74% (social), and 67.66% (economic).
"We are grateful for this restoration activity because it has connected the farmers in Bahaur Village with the local government and opened up potential collaborations with other partners. We hope that there will be follow-up activities after this and ongoing support in the future," said Mr. Sugianoor, a local farmer involved in the project.
Bahaur in Seruyan Regency is a home to 1,345 people from Dayak, Banjar, and Javanese ethnic groups. The village's economy relies on agriculture, with oil palm, rubber, and arenga palm as the primary crops, alongside secondary crops such as corn, peanuts, and cucumbers. The local community is also engaged in fish farming, producing tilapia, hoven's carp, and catfish.