reported by Indonesian broadcasting stations and international co-production programs. During the last 11 years, several international organizations have helped to
build weirs in this area, but concrete water management by villagers, companies, and
researchers has been achieved in this village only in the last one or two years. The
strength of the JPP is the relationship of trust it has built up over the past 11 years and
the fact that it has established a mechanism for working with villagers by hiring local
coordinators. Although the importance of weirs in peat management had been
explained to villagers, only a few people were aware of the importance of “weir
making” and “ecosystem management.” However, the consciousness of the villagers
changed greatly by conducting the activities while discussing “each other’s responsibility,” “trial and error,” and “their way of managing.” The most significant result
of JPP is the motivation of the villagers.
This village was an undeveloped area without roads and electricity, but after a
period of development and frequent fires, it is now developed into an advanced area
for peatland restoration. Through our cooperation, villagers’ awareness of the
environment has increased, and as a result, the number of fires has decreased since
2015. Over the past 10 years, companies have changed their attitude toward cooperation with villagers and have become more active in supporting villagers’ activities. Though companies are often criticized for causing environmental problems,
Table 25.1 Tree planting area and tree species of participating villagers
No
Area
(ha)
Local name
1
2.5
Pulai, Kelat, Balam, Gaharu, Mahoni, Ramin, Bintangur, Geronggang,
Meranti, Matoa
2
1
Geronggang, Kopi
3
0.4
Gaharu, Jengkol, Petai, Meranti, Kelat
4
2
Ramin, Bintangur, Jelutung, Gaharu, Balam, Meranti, Petai, Durian, Pulai
5
1
Pulai, Mahang, Ramin, Kelat, Gaharu, Balam, Petai
6
1.2
Bintangur, Pulai
7
1
Gaharu, Pulai
8
2
Mahoni, Pulai, Jelutung, Gaharu, Pinang, Sirsak, Petai, Matoa
9
0.8
Mahang, Gaharu, Meranti
10
0.5
Mahang, Ramin, Balam, Pulai, Matoa
11
8.5
Gaharu, Pulai, Jelutung, Mahoni, Petai, Jengkol
12
0.5
Ramin, Bintangur
13
1
Ramin, Bintangur, Meranti, Pulai, Gaharu, Geronggang, Kopi
14
1
Ramin, Bintangur
15
2
Kopi, Gaharu
16
0.5
Kelat, Meranti, Ramin, Bintangur, Gaharu
17
0.5
Gaharu, Kopi
18
1
Kopi, Gaharu
19
1
Jengkol, Petai
Total 28.4
25 Case Study on Community-Based Water Management in Tropical Peatland
673
build weirs in this area, but concrete water management by villagers, companies, and
researchers has been achieved in this village only in the last one or two years. The
strength of the JPP is the relationship of trust it has built up over the past 11 years and
the fact that it has established a mechanism for working with villagers by hiring local
coordinators. Although the importance of weirs in peat management had been
explained to villagers, only a few people were aware of the importance of “weir
making” and “ecosystem management.” However, the consciousness of the villagers
changed greatly by conducting the activities while discussing “each other’s responsibility,” “trial and error,” and “their way of managing.” The most significant result
of JPP is the motivation of the villagers.
This village was an undeveloped area without roads and electricity, but after a
period of development and frequent fires, it is now developed into an advanced area
for peatland restoration. Through our cooperation, villagers’ awareness of the
environment has increased, and as a result, the number of fires has decreased since
2015. Over the past 10 years, companies have changed their attitude toward cooperation with villagers and have become more active in supporting villagers’ activities. Though companies are often criticized for causing environmental problems,
Table 25.1 Tree planting area and tree species of participating villagers
No
Area
(ha)
Local name
1
2.5
Pulai, Kelat, Balam, Gaharu, Mahoni, Ramin, Bintangur, Geronggang,
Meranti, Matoa
2
1
Geronggang, Kopi
3
0.4
Gaharu, Jengkol, Petai, Meranti, Kelat
4
2
Ramin, Bintangur, Jelutung, Gaharu, Balam, Meranti, Petai, Durian, Pulai
5
1
Pulai, Mahang, Ramin, Kelat, Gaharu, Balam, Petai
6
1.2
Bintangur, Pulai
7
1
Gaharu, Pulai
8
2
Mahoni, Pulai, Jelutung, Gaharu, Pinang, Sirsak, Petai, Matoa
9
0.8
Mahang, Gaharu, Meranti
10
0.5
Mahang, Ramin, Balam, Pulai, Matoa
11
8.5
Gaharu, Pulai, Jelutung, Mahoni, Petai, Jengkol
12
0.5
Ramin, Bintangur
13
1
Ramin, Bintangur, Meranti, Pulai, Gaharu, Geronggang, Kopi
14
1
Ramin, Bintangur
15
2
Kopi, Gaharu
16
0.5
Kelat, Meranti, Ramin, Bintangur, Gaharu
17
0.5
Gaharu, Kopi
18
1
Kopi, Gaharu
19
1
Jengkol, Petai
Total 28.4
25 Case Study on Community-Based Water Management in Tropical Peatland
673