Alternative Livelihoods

Although education may encourage communities to care about the forest and orangutans, a major source of income for villagers comes from illegal logging. Big oil palm companies are also offering villagers money to convert forests in Gunung Palung's buffer zone to plantations. Oil palm is a highly destructive monoculture that is not sustainable (a plantation's life is roughly 20 years), destroys the fertile soil, often results in more fire and drought, and completely eradicates forests that are used by orangutans. Development of plantations has also created social conflicts, particularly with local communities who struggle to assert authority over village forests and sustainably manage their natural resources. Thus, it is critical to develop ecologically friendly, sustainable alternatives to these options.

GPOCP holds meetings to educate villagers about the potential effects of oil palm on their environment and to facilitate community discussions. GPOCP also brings community leaders who are contemplating giving their land over to oil palm companies to more distant villages where oil palm conversion has already taken place. We also initiated a program to assist interested villages in certifying their forests as "community forests" (a designation that gives them legal control over how their forests are used). GPOCP is also working with communities to develop viable income alternatives such as handicraft and agricultural businesses and ecotourism.

GPOCP staff work with villagers on a home garden project. (Photo: Desi Kurniawanti)

GPOCP staff meet with villagers to discuss setting up a craft business. (Photo: Desi Kurniawanti)