Perceptions towards companies and forest conservation in two villages of Uut Murung, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

  • Andrea Hoeing Georg-August-Universität, Conservation Biology/ WG on Endangered Species, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
  • Andhi Suncoko Faculty of Human Ecology, Bogor Agricultural University. Indonesia
  • Deni Deni BRINCC (Barito River Initiative for Nature Conservation and Communities), Hitchin, Herts, UK, SG4 9RJ
  • Dominic Rowland BRINCC (Barito River Initiative for Nature Conservation and Communities), Hitchin, Herts, UK, SG4 9RJ
  • Erisa Murray Faculty of Social and Political Science, Postgraduate Department of Anthropology, University of Indonesia, Indonesia
  • Iis Sabahudin Faculty of Social and Political Science, Postgraduate Department of Anthropology, University of Indonesia, Indonesia
  • Michael Zrust Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, England NW1 4RY
  • Peter R. Houlihan BRINCC (Barito River Initiative for Nature Conservation and Communities), Hitchin, Herts, UK, SG4 9RJ
  • Kristina Grossmann Department for Development and Cultural Studies, Southeast Asia, University of Passau, Germany
  • Matthias Waltert Georg-August-Universität, Conservation Biology/ WG on Endangered Species, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
  • Susan M. Cheyne Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxon, OX13, 5QL, U.K.

Abstract

An increasing number of companies in industries such as mining or logging with forest conversion plans, are advancing into remote areas in the interior of Kalimantan. This study investigates attitudes of local villagers towards those companies. We conducted a two months expedition to two villages to the sub-district of Uut Murung, Murung Raya, Kalimantan, Indonesia, where the social science team completed questionnaires and semi structured interviews. Factors potentially influencing those attitudes towards companies were analysed using step-wise linear regression, as well as perceived benefits and disadvantages for respondent's livelihoods. In addition, perceptions of the importance of conservation were assessed. Our results show that gender, age, the belief in forest spirits and the number of advantages named, significantly influenced the attitude towards companies. We found communities generally highly receptive to economic development but hostile of environmental degradation, suggesting a difficult trade off between conservation and development. Communities desire the protection of livelihoods and sources of environmental income but also the investment and infrastructure development associated with extractive industries. To find a balance between economic interests from company investments and conservation of the area, we suggest a trans-disciplinary approach which includes different actors - academic and non academic - to be able to protect biodiversity and livelihoods by creating transformation knowledge.

Published
2015-07-01
How to Cite
HOEING, Andrea et al. Perceptions towards companies and forest conservation in two villages of Uut Murung, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Journal of Indonesian Natural History, [S.l.], v. 3, n. 1, p. 19-30, july 2015. ISSN 2685-5437. Available at: <http://jinh.fmipa.unand.ac.id/index.php/jinh/article/view/57>. Date accessed: 29 mar. 2024.
Section
Contributing Papers