A Supplemental HCVF Assessment on the Sumatran Tiger ...

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FINAL REPORT Tiger <strong>HCVF</strong> <strong>Supplemental</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong> – Serapung FMU basins to the north and the south, it is predictable that the pressures on the landscape will increase dramatically as remaining forests and their intrinsic value is eroded. Figure 1. Location of the FMU in relation to surrounding Siak-Pelalawan forest block derived from 2002 Landsat subsequently modified based on ground-truthing (Feb 2005). 2.2 Description of the Serapung FMU The Serapung Forest Management Unit (19,945 Ha) is comprised of two industrial timber concessions, PT. Satria Perkasa Agung (SPA or Serapung I) and PT. Mitra Hutan Jaya (MHJ or Serapung II), managed as a single entity by PT. Arara Abadi. The management objective of both districts is to provide wood fibre, from mixed tropical hardwood forests, to supply the PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (IKPP) mill in Perawang over the short term, while providing a land-base for Acacia plantations over the longer term. Relatively small volumes of sawlogs are also sent to nearby sawmills. The concessions were approved by the Head (Bupati) of Pelalawan District, with licenses that allow for land-clearing of forest, establishment of canals and drainage ditches, and planting of Acacia crassicarpa for pulpwood production. A six to seven-year growing cycle is assumed for future Acacia crassicarpa productivity in this area, based upon an estimated MAI of 25 m3/ha. The first harvest of Acacia in FMU Serapung is due in 2010. At the present time the majority of remaining un-cleared forest, destined for felling and conversion to plantation, is in the northern sections of the FMU. This study focuses on remaining natural forests situated in the northern half of the concession area within, and adjacent to, Serapung I district (11,404 ha). Acacia plantations occur in the HTI-designated production (Produksi) areas of the concession. Other designated forestland uses within the concession are for conservation (Konservasi), community livelihood (Kehidupan) and high-quality local tree species (Unggulan) – collectively referred to as “set-aside” forests (see Figure 2). Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program Pg 8/68
FINAL REPORT Tiger <strong>HCVF</strong> <strong>Supplemental</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong> – Serapung FMU In Serapung I district, a total of 1,343 ha or 12% of the FMU area is designated for conservation (Konservasi). This conservation area consists of a wide strip running parallel to the coast, from the northern most corner of the concession, to approximately half way along its north-south length. As of September 2004 a total of 5,723 ha (50% of Serapung I district) remains under forest cover (data from SmartWood <strong>HCVF</strong> report; see Table 2 below). All of the remaining forest within the three land-use categories above suffer from illegal logging by local communities. The species of primary focus for these unauthorized loggers include Suntai (Palaquium burkii), Punah (Tetramerista glabra), Meranti bunga (Shorea teysmanniana) and Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus). During the 1980s, the FMU and adjacent forests were selectively logged under the Indonesian Selective Logging and Planting System (TPTI). Locomotive rail lines were used to extract logs until around 1995. As a result most natural forest areas within the FMU have experienced two previous logging cycles in addition to ongoing, unauthorised commercial hand-logging by villagers. Aerial surveys via helicopter, by both SmartWood and STCP assessment teams, confirmed that no areas of primary forest could be identified within the FMU. Degradation of habitat within the concession was classified by SmartWood (see Figure 3) from satellite imagery, described as either “severely degraded” (where little canopy remains) or “less severely logged” (where canopy is patchy but a nearly continuous under-story exists). Secondary forest and scrub vegetation, often the result of postagricultural regeneration, is characteristic in the FMU wherever it borders coastal farmland. An extensive network of canals covers the majority of both forested and non-forested production areas within the FMU. Ranging in size from primary canals of 12 metres width, to secondary canals of approximately 9 metres width, these function to optimise the water-table depth for plantation growth, for management access into the plantations, and for the easy passage of barges to log collection points. The FMU is adjacent to or overlapping the land area also claimed by each of four villages - Pulau Muda, Segamai, Gambut Mutiara and Serapung. However, none of these villages have permanent settlements on the north bank of the Kampar River near to the FMU. Exceptions to this are the scattering of simple dwellings, situated along a strip between the FMU and the coastline, which are associated with low intensity coconut farming. Another exception is the expanding pioneer settlement associated with the disused primary logging rail and canal of the previously active HPH concession belonging to PT. Yos Raya Timber. Situated on the northern boundary of Serapung I district, this settlement considers itself as an outpost of Pulau Serapung village. In STCP’s opinion, land ownership disputes are likely to intensify in this region as the Yos sub-village continues to expand. Further clarification of these issues is included in the SmartWood <strong>HCVF</strong> report for Serapung District. All four of the definitive settlements represent historically poor muara river villages, where inhabitants tend to have a closer livelihood relationship with forests in contrast to the upstream pangkalan villages with their important role as staging grounds for estate crop commodities (Kuniyasu 2002). In recent times the replacement of river transport with roads, increased employment opportunities in downstream timber and oil palm plantations and, above all, greatly increased opportunities to sell timber from village forests, have caused a rise in economic importance of muara settlements relative to pangkalan villages. Farming is the primary livelihood for villagers (SmartWood reports more than 75% of all families rely on agriculture). The highest proportion of farmers can be found in the Yos sub-village, where subsistence reliance on farming is likely to feature strongly until their Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program Pg 9/68
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A Supplemental HCVF Assessment on the Sumatran Tiger ...

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