4 June 2023 2023 - 2027
Ongoing
Kutai Timur Landscape Programme
Introduced in 2023, the Sustainable Landscape Initiative in Kutai Timur (SUSTAIN KUTIM) is a three-year collaboration between the public and private sector in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, coordinated by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Proforest and Tanah Air Lestari (TAL), under the remit of the East Kutai District Government’s ongoing sustainability strategy. The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of the East Kutai District Government, local communities, smallholders, workers, and plantation companies to cooperate in transforming East Kutai to be a sustainable region in agricultural production, with a focus on palm oil and rubber.
Context
East Kutai (Kutai Timur) regency covers a total area of 3,151,176 hectares, of which two thirds (67,1%) of the land is forest cover, and about one third (32,7%) is classified as Other Land Use Area (APL), of which roughly half are palm oil plantations. East Kutai is home to vast palm oil plantations alongside the most extensive natural forest cover. The area contains significant areas of wetlands, karst, mangroves, coral reefs, and habitats for some critically endangered species.
Activities and Proforest's role
The project focuses on five priority villages (Tepian Terap, Miau Baru, Karangan Sebrang, Suka Maju, and Tepian Langsat) covering a total area of 354,339 hectares. Proforest’s focus will be on the protection of High Conversation Value (HCV) areas, by empowering the land users in the five priority villages of selected sub-districts to protect and sustainably manage HCV areas to reduce GhG emissions.
Objective of the landscape programme
The four key aims of the initiative are:
- The development of foundational elements to facilitate the multistakeholder cooperation process
- The protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas
- Strengthening tenurial and operational legalities of local communities and smallholders
- Sustainable production by smallholders and companies
The commitments by East Kutai District Government towards the project are guided by the Sustainable Plantation Declaration which aims to strengthen the commitment of public and private sector and to increase High Conservation Value (HCV) protection of East Kutai. Beyond that, continued private sector engagements will be conducted to ensure alignment and connectivity between HCV areas and village land use plans. This will also lead to the establishment of company-community agreements for collaboration and to jointly managed HCV areas in a sustainable manner.
Results, outcomes to date
Key achievements include:
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A formal Multi-Stakeholder Forum established, coordinated by BAPPEDA, to drive inclusive dialogue on sustainable development.
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Over 203,000 ha of potential High Conservation Value (HCV) areas identified in five priority villages; data submitted to the Agriculture Department for follow-up conservation planning.
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1,217 farmers supported with land mapping across 4,419 ha; 362 have received land certificates and are ready to register under the national STDB system.
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Oil palm yields increased by 20%, reaching 16,119 kg/ha, while farmer incomes rose by 161% to €1,770/ha, supported by Farmer Field Schools and technical training.
Donors/partners, current and previous funding
The project is funded by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation to and Development (BMZ), Barry Callebaut, McDonalds, Nestlé and PepsiCo.
External links