Community Forest Management in the Heart of Borneo

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1 Photo: Rhett A. Butler Community Forest Management in the Heart of Borneo Briefing Note 3: Conserving Biodiversity Effective community forest management in Indonesia can contribute to conservation in some of the world s most bio-diverse forests Biodiversity was surveyed at two pilot sites in Kalimantan, where community forest management is being implemented in compliance with international bestpractices for area-based conservation, as certified by the Verified Conservation Areas (VCA) Standard The high number of threatened and endangered species identified highlights the potential for biodiversity conservation at the pilot sites, that could attract funding from national and international donors The monitoring and reporting required by the VCA Standard ensures that transparency and accountability is maintained, helping to demonstrate performance to funders and other stakeholders

2 Indonesia s forests support an immense diversity of plant and animal species of local and international significance. Deforestation and forest degradation threatens these species, and preventing habitat loss and degradation is therefore a vital component of Indonesia s efforts to conserve biodiversity. The Sustainable Forest and Biodiversity Management in Borneo (SFBMB) project, funded by the Asian Development Bank and implemented by the Republic of Indonesia s, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Directorate of Ecosystem Services on Conservation Areas (DESCA), established community forest management activities with the aim of preventing deforestation and forest degradation in two pilot sites Nanga Lauk Village Forest in West Kalimantan, and Community Territory in North Kalimantan. Finance for biodiversity conservation - through national programmes or through links with individuals and companies with an interest in conservation - was identified as a potential source of funding for forest protection and livelihood activities at the pilot sites. To demonstrate the biodiversity value of the sites, and provide a mechanism for demonstrating how conservation finance is being used to support sustainable forest management, both sites have been registered as Verified Conservation Areas. This briefing note describes the approaches used to demonstrate the conservation value of the sites, and the monitoring that will be carried out to demonstrate biodiversity benefits and maintain Verified Conservation Area (VCA) status. For full details and further information see the VCA Conservation Management Plans: Community Territory Nanga Lauk Village Forest The Verified Conservation Area (VCA) Standard The VCA Standard is intended to enable transparency and public accountability for the conservation actions of land managers There is a growing global network of conservation areas registered under the VCA Standard. To be registered as a VCA, areas must produce a Conservation Management Plan describing the biodiversity present, and the conservation activities that will be carried out to protect it. The conservation management plan is assessed by a VCA approved auditor who also visits the site. Once registered, VCAs submit annual performance reports that are reviewed by an approved VCA auditor who provides an independent assessment of the area s stated commitment to conservation. Periodic biodiversity surveys are used to assess the impact of the VCA. 2

3 Demonstrating biodiversity commitments Working towards VCA registration, the SFBMB project supported the development of Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) for both project sites, in partnership with a local partner in each location. The CMP process involved: - Preparing an overview report of the conservation area, including biodiversity baseline conditions (including biodiversity assessments) and details of local community socioeconomic conditions. - Outlining the main land uses and main threats to biodiversity - Setting out potential project interventions and activities, including a barrier analysis and SWOT analysis to prioritise the activities most likely to succeed in the long term - Clearly highlighting the expected impacts of the activities proposed - Establishing a plan for VCA monitoring for the future. The process was carried out through extensive community consultation, ensuring that the communities are committed to the protection and sustainable management of their forests and to maintain the biodiversity and ecosystem services that their livelihoods depend upon. Biodiversity assessments As a baseline for realistic conservation planning, thesfbmb project conducted participatory biodiversity assessments at both pilot sites using visual recognition of pictures and photographs to identify species that community members had encountered in the project areas. Rapid biodiversity assessments were also conducted by a team of taxonomic experts to verify the mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, and fish species present. The species identified by the rapid biodiversity survey teams, and their status in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ( are summarised below. It is likely that a longer and more detailed survey would reveal more species in all of the taxonomic groups. Mammals Thirty-six mammal species were identified in Territory, mostly through indirect observations. Of these one is critically endangered, two are endangered, and eight are vulnerable. Twenty-three mammal species were identified in and around Nanga Lauk Village forest of which one is critically endangered, three are endangered, and three are vulnerable. 3

4 IUCN Redlist Status Community Territory (PACT) Nanga Lauk Village Forest (NLVF) Critically endangered Endangered Vulnerable Pangolin Manis javanica Müller s gibbon Hylobates muelleri Hairy nosed otter Lutra sumatrana Hosei s langur Presbytis hosei Pig-tailed macaque Macaca nemestrina Oriental small- clawed otter Aonyx cinerea Binturong Arctitis binturong Sun bear Helarctus malayanus Bearded pig Sus barbatus Sambar deer Cervus unicolor Vordermann s flying squirrel Petinomys vordermanni Bornean Orangutan Pongo pygmaeus Müller s gibbon Hylobates muelleri Hairy nosed otter Lutra sumatrana Proboscis monkey Nasalis larvatus Red langur Presbytis rubicund Oriental small- clawed otter Aonyx cinerea Sun bear Helarctus malayanus Photo: Pixabay 4

5 Birds In Territory, 143 species of bird were recorded, including the critically endangered Helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) and four vulnerable species. One hundred and twenty-seven bird species were recorded in Nanga Lauk Village Forest, including seven species of migratory bird, two species endemic to Borneo, one endangered species and two vulnerable species. Four of the eight species of hornbills found in Borneo were also recorded in Nanga Lauk Village Forest. IUCN Redlist Status Community Territory (PACT) Nanga Lauk Village Forest (NLVF) Critically endangered Endangered Vulnerable Helmeted hornbill Rhinoplax vigil Blue-banded Kingfisher Alcedo eryzona Gray Imperial Pigeon Ducula pickeringii Blue-headed Pitta Pitta baudii Bornean Wren-Babbler Ptilocichla leucogrammica Storm s Stork Ciconia stormi Blue-banded Kingfsher Alcedo eryzona Short-toed Coucal Centropus Reptiles and amphibians In Territory, 28 amphibian and 40 reptile species were identified. Fifteen of the species are endemic to Kalimantan, two are endangered and three are vulnerable. Twelve amphibian and 24 reptile species were identified in Nanga Lauk Village Forest, including three endangered and one vulnerable species. IUCN Redlist Status Community Territory (PACT) Nanga Lauk Village Forest (NLVF) Endangered Vulnerable Spiny Turtle Heosemys spinosa Brown Giant Tortoise Manouria emys King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah Common-Softshell Turtle Amyda cartilaginea Six Shield Terrapin Notochelys platynota. Spiny Turtle Heosemys spinosa Bornean river turtle Orlitia borneensis False gharial Tomistoma schlegelii Common-Softshell Turtle Amyda cartilaginea 5

6 Trees Photo: At least two tree species that occur within Territory are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Agarwood (Aquilaria spp.) and Ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri). Four tree species that occur within Nanga Lauk Village Forest are vulnerable Borneo Ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri), Light Red Meranti (Shorea macrophylla), Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis), and Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus). High Conservation Values High Conservation Values (HCV) associated with Territory and Nanga Lauk Village Forest are summarised below. HCV Category Territory (PACT) Nanga Lauk Village Forest (NLVF) HCV 1 Biodiversity HCV 2 Landscape-level ecosystems and mosaics HCV 3 Rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems HCV 4 Ecosystem services in critical situations Many threatened and endangered species present. The PACT is an expanse of relatively intact dipterocarp forest, with small patches used for shifting cultivation. Within the PACT there are a number of salt-water ponds where wildlife gathers. These rarely occurring ponds also attract hunters and are an important focus for conservation efforts. Adiu River provides clean and unpolluted water during dry season as well as fresh water fish for consumption. Unfortunately, the Malinau River that also flows through the PACT is thought to be polluted by upstream coal mining meaning it is no longer advisable to consume the water or catch fish from this river. Many threatened and endangered species present. The peat swamp forest in NLVF and NLHPT is contiguous and relatively intact. Lakes within the NLVF and some riparian areas with deep and narrow riverbeds are rich fishing grounds which are an important focus for conservation efforts. 6

7 HCV Category HCV 5 Provision of basic needs HCV6 Cultural importance Territory (PACT) The Punan Adiu community depend on forest within the PACT to provide food, water, medicine, wood, non-timber forest products (rattan, medicinal plants, fruits, others), wildlife, etc. For many of the households, the forest is their only source of livelihoods. The PACT includes a number of sites of local cultural importance, including sites famous for local mythology, an ancestral cemetery, and sites that are sacred for local festivals. Nanga Lauk Village Forest (NLVF) Palin and Lauk Rivers are the sources of water for Nanga Lauk community. Fish from the rivers are an important source of livelihoods, as is honey produced within NLVF. Forests in NLVF and the community s limited production forest provide food, wood/timber for housing and boat making, water, medicine, and NTFPs including rattan, medicinal plants, and fruits. Monitoring and verification The activities that will be carried out to prevent loss and degradation of habitat are described in Briefing Note 1 Protecting forest and improving livelihoods. To assess whether these activities are being carried out as planned, the activity based indicators described in Briefing Note 2 - Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation will be monitored. The land-cover change assessment also described in Briefing Note 2 will be used to track changes in habitat extent and quality. Biodiversity monitoring will also be integrated with forest patrol and monitoring, and a periodic biodiversity survey will be conducted by trained taxonomists. To maintain their status as Verified Conservation Areas, an annual audit will be conducted by a VCA approved auditor to determine whether the management plans are being effectively implemented, and a full biodiversity survey will be conducted at least every 5 years. The observation of conspicuous reductions in species abundances will require corrective actions to project design and/or implementation elements. 7

8 Biodiversity monitoring parameters The biodiversity monitoring information that will be recorded by forest patrol and monitoring teams during patrolling events is summarised below. Parameter Encounters with indicator species Unsanctioned animal traps located and removed Other threats to biodiversity Details recorded Location of observation (coordinates), distance from observer, type of observation (seen/heard/spoor/scat/other), sex and reproductive status (if known), confidence in identification Location (coordinates), type of trap Location (coordinates), type (e.g. unsustainable fishing practices, or signs of unsanctioned hunting such as gunshots heard) Indicator species Indicator species that will be recorded by forest patrol and monitoring teams at the pilot sites are described below. Territory (PACT) Nanga Lauk Village Forest (NLVF) Mammals Primates Hosei's langur Presbytis hosei Long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis Pig-tailed macaque Macaca nemestrina Bornean gibbon Hylobates muelleri Other mammals Wild pigs Sus barbatus Sun bear Helarctos malayanus All squirrels All deer Primates Bornean oragutan Pongo pygmaeus Proboscis monkey Nasalis larvatus Long-tailed macaque Macaca fascicularis Maroon langur Presbytis rubicund Otters Oriental small-clawed otter Aonyx cinerea Hairy-nosed otter Lutra sumatrana Squirrels All species 8

9 Territory (PACT) Nanga Lauk Village Forest (NLVF) Birds Amphibians and reptiles Hornbills Bushy-crested hornbill Anorrhinus galeritus White-crowned hornbill Aceros comatus Helmeted hornbill Rhinoplax vigil Black hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus Wreathed hornbill Aceros undulates Rhinoceros hornbill Buceros rhinoceros Other birds Greater green leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati White rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Any diurnal species Hornbills Oriental pied hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris Black hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus Wrinkled hornbill Aceros corrugates Rhinoceros hornbill Buceros rhinoceros Other birds Storm stork Ciconia stormi Greater green leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati White rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis Any diurnal species 9

10 Briefing Note 3: Conserving Biodiversity Conclusion The SFBMB project pilot sites have high biodiversity values. They support high diversity of species, many of which are of conservation concern. Effective management of these areas by the local communities therefore has potential to make a significant contribution to local and global conservation efforts. Registration as Verified Conservation Areas will ensure that the management activities and biodiversity indicators are monitored, and results are made available to funders and other stakeholders. It is hoped that this transparency and accountability will encourage support from the Government of Indonesia, and other sources of conservation finance. 10

11 Briefing Note 3: Conserving Biodiversity 11

12 The SFBMB project ran from September 2015 to February These briefing notes and an overall summary have been produced to celebrate the achievements of and share lessons from the project: Briefing Note 1: Protecting forests and improving livelihoods Briefing Note 2: Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation Briefing Note 3: Conserving Biodiversity Sustainable forest and biodiversity management in Borneo - a summary Photograph Credits: Photos used within this document are SFBMB project photographs unless otherwise stated. SFBMB project team members and SFBMB project photographer Reza Marlon are credited for project photographs. LTS Limited International (UK) Pentlands Science Park Bush Loan. Penicuik. Nr. Edinburgh EH26 0PL Scotland Tel: (+44) Fax: (+44) mail@ltsi.co.uk Daemeter Consulting Jl. Tangkuban Perahu 1 Taman Kencana Bogor, Jawa Barat Tel./Fax: info@daemeter.org