Chapter 11
Transforming Exploitative Land-Based
Economy to Reduce Terrestrial Carbon
Stock Loss: The Case of Kalimantan,
Indonesia
Chun Sheng Goh and Ser Huay Janice Teresa Lee
Abstract Large-scale land exploitation has been regarded as a quick way to jumpstart backward agricultural economies, but it also brought about profound impacts on
climate change through terrestrial carbon stock change. Kalimantan is a major site
of terrestrial carbon stock loss. Major carbon stock loss happened in the 1970–1980s
due to predatory logging activities under Suharto’s regime. Since 2000, the conversion of forest to oil palm plantation has become a prominent driver. In 2006–2010, the
total carbon stock loss in Kalimantan amounted to 53 Tg CO 2 /yr. Boosting upstream
productivity of cash crops, mobilising under-utilised low carbon and degraded land
resources, creating value for carbon stock (e.g. REDD+) and enhancing resilience
to natural and human-made disasters were regarded as the four major strategies
proposed for transforming exploitative land-based activities. However, the implementation of each strategy has faced various challenges. The first two strategies with
wealth creation as the centre of policymaking may prevent further degradation but
are inadequate to repair the previous environmental damage. Similarly, the last two
strategies that emphasise restoration have limited contribution to economic growth.
To better understand the dynamics of such transformation, careful attention must be
paid to the territorial-specific characteristics and on-the-ground realities. This must
also include the historical background of land-based development and its continuity.
Keywords Kalimantan · Land-use · Carbon stock · Forest · Bio-economy
C. S. Goh (B)
Center for Government and International Studies, Harvard University, Asia Center,
1730 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02138, US
e-mail: chunshengg@sunway.edu.my
Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, Malaysia, Malaysia
S. H. J. T. Lee
Asian School of the Environment, College of Science, Nanyang Technological University (NTU),
Subang Jaya, Singapore
e-mail: chunshengg@sunway.edu.my
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Djalante et al. (eds.), Climate Change Research, Policy and Actions in Indonesia,
Springer Climate, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55536-8_11
229
Transforming Exploitative Land-Based
Economy to Reduce Terrestrial Carbon
Stock Loss: The Case of Kalimantan,
Indonesia
Chun Sheng Goh and Ser Huay Janice Teresa Lee
Abstract Large-scale land exploitation has been regarded as a quick way to jumpstart backward agricultural economies, but it also brought about profound impacts on
climate change through terrestrial carbon stock change. Kalimantan is a major site
of terrestrial carbon stock loss. Major carbon stock loss happened in the 1970–1980s
due to predatory logging activities under Suharto’s regime. Since 2000, the conversion of forest to oil palm plantation has become a prominent driver. In 2006–2010, the
total carbon stock loss in Kalimantan amounted to 53 Tg CO 2 /yr. Boosting upstream
productivity of cash crops, mobilising under-utilised low carbon and degraded land
resources, creating value for carbon stock (e.g. REDD+) and enhancing resilience
to natural and human-made disasters were regarded as the four major strategies
proposed for transforming exploitative land-based activities. However, the implementation of each strategy has faced various challenges. The first two strategies with
wealth creation as the centre of policymaking may prevent further degradation but
are inadequate to repair the previous environmental damage. Similarly, the last two
strategies that emphasise restoration have limited contribution to economic growth.
To better understand the dynamics of such transformation, careful attention must be
paid to the territorial-specific characteristics and on-the-ground realities. This must
also include the historical background of land-based development and its continuity.
Keywords Kalimantan · Land-use · Carbon stock · Forest · Bio-economy
C. S. Goh (B)
Center for Government and International Studies, Harvard University, Asia Center,
1730 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02138, US
e-mail: chunshengg@sunway.edu.my
Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, Malaysia, Malaysia
S. H. J. T. Lee
Asian School of the Environment, College of Science, Nanyang Technological University (NTU),
Subang Jaya, Singapore
e-mail: chunshengg@sunway.edu.my
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Djalante et al. (eds.), Climate Change Research, Policy and Actions in Indonesia,
Springer Climate, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55536-8_11
229