Scaling Agroforestry in Indonesia

Agroforestry is defined as combining ‘agriculture with trees’ to create a biodiverse and productive food forest that supports a number of SDG goals, as well as absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

The flagship project of the Gula Gula Food Forest is being implemented in the Singkarak river basin of West Sumatra province where past deforestation and inappropriate land use practices have cleared most of the trees. The project works with six indigenous villages community to restore the degraded land by integrating Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) techniques with planted agroforestry species. All planted trees are chosen by the local community to support subsistence food production, as well as creating the opportunity of micro-enterprises. In conjunction to this, the carbon income and the processing of agroforestry products boost local income and employment opportunities. 

The trees and vegetation that come from this agroforestry initiative provide the foundation for a myriad of other initiatives where Gula Gula is leading the way. Human-Wildlife conflict is commonplace in Indonesian farms, for instance, plantations growing coffee found themselves at odds with civet cats who kept eating coffee berries.

Forced to protect their livelihoods, farmers started to poison or kill them, but through Gula Gula they could turn this problem into a solution by selling Kopi Luwak, a gourmet coffee processed from the droppings of the cat.

For Gula Gula, its all about supporting farmers in ways that protect the environment they depend on. Thanks to extensive collaboration with national experts from University of Brawijaja allowed farmers to observe what worms do underground.

When comparing, the contrast was clear: while the flat cage containing bare soil (similar to soils managed using conventional farming methods) showed little activity, soils rich in biomass (as in older agroforests) were teeming with worm activity. Farmers who admitted to using herbicides for vegetable cultivation were surprised (and regretful) to learn that they harm worms' reproductive organs but are now curious about changing practices to support this vital workforce.

From this lesson the community learned to protect earthworms for healthier trees and more sustainable agroforests.

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Your generous support is fundamental to the continuation and ongoing success of these inspiring initiatives. There are also opportunities to hop on board and actively get involved.

To find out more and how your donation will make a positive impact, please email support@pelorusfoundation.com.