Part 1 – A Rapid Participatory Biodiversity Assessment - IUCN

Small road with village use forest on left hand side
Plantation development is dependent upon the district development program in terms of whether the
area can be considered priority for plantation as well as whether appropriate land areas can be made
available. The biodiversity survey team’s initial observation, however, is that the village land
availability may be a limiting factor as much of the land is already being used for paddy cultivation
and grazing. Unoccupied area mainly consists of old fallow and good secondary forest and is of high
biodiversity value in the mosaic agricultural landscape.
Community concerns about the plantation model
The village authority reported that a number village households have already undertaken industrial
plantation, primarily of Mai ketsana wood (Aquilaria crassna), but it is relatively small-scale. Despite
this experience with plantations, when the Stora Enso plantation model was explained briefly locals
viewed it sceptically and showed a general lack of enthusiasm for the idea. It was clear that this
village and others like it will need a proper introduction to the model and that the company will have to
work hard to show that the potential benefits of this model and its desired net livelihood benefits can
be realised.
Village Kapok (Bombax ceiba) plantations
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