[Social background]

In the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, a social forestry policy has been introduced with the aim of balancing the economy and the environment by curbing uncontrolled forest clearing and securing the livelihood of surrounding farmers. In reality, however, the conversion of forest slopes to agricultural land was accelerated, which in turn contributed to soil runoff and the release of large amounts of carbon that had been stored in the watershed.
 

[Purposes of the activities]

Our research is aimed at alleviating local farmers’ poverty, conserving the water environment of the watershed and reducing carbon discharge from the watershed by developing a watershed management technology that enables the conservation of tropical forest slopes, where soil loss due to land alteration is severe, to ensure sustainable farming.

 

[Overview of activities]

We selected the Batutegi Dam watershed, located in the southern part of Sumatra, Indonesia, as the main research area, and we are surveying water quality and farming conditions in the watershed in collaboration with local universities and research institutes. We are also considering land management for sustainable coffee cultivation promoted in the watershed by using simulation model analysis.
 

[Expected effects]

Japan is one of the world’s largest importers of coffee beans, and our main research area is one of the coffee growing regions. Through this research, we will help to realize sustainable watershed management that balances tropical forest conservation with agricultural use. We believe that this will accelerate carbon sequestration in the watershed, thereby helping to curb global warming.