When agroforests drive back natural forests: A socio-economic analysis of a rice-agroforest system in Sumatra

In the Krui arae, (South Sumatra, Indonesia), the damar agroforests (Shorea javanica, Dipterocarpaceae) are but one element of the farming systems which include several other cropping systems such as irrigated or rainfed rice cultivation, and coffee plantation.

Rainfed rice is cultivated in forest clearings, in order to meet rice requirements which cannot be met with irrigated rice crop only. In the forest clearings, coffee stands are established in rice crop, and later, Damar are planted among coffee plants. As a result of this cropping system, the damar agroforest spreads while the forest dwindles.

In one village, no more forest land is available for peasants' clearings. The resulting high land pressure causes cropping systems and farming systems to change or to be exported to neighbouring areas where forest land is still available.