Output 16: Map of Fallow Land and Development Feasibility
Prepared by Riswan Zein (GIS Specialist - YEL)
Translation by A. S. Adji Darsoyo (Swamp Conservation Programme Leader - YEL)
1. Introduction:
Currently there are approx. 7.4 million ha fallow land in Indonesia, as a result of
different factors such as shifted cultivation system, less fertile soils, inaccessible and
logging activities. On the other hand, more and more forests are cleared for farming
and plantation activities, especially for oil palm plantations. The existing fallow lands
could actually be used as an alternative for the development of farming and plantation
activities.
The west coast part of Aceh Province is recognized as a unique landscape with mixed
of mountainous and swamp ecosystems, and some of these areas are declared as
National Parks and protected forests. There are 4 districts i.e Aceh Singkil, Aceh
Selatan, Nagan Raya, and Aceh Barat Daya which are adjacent to Leuser Ecosystem
and Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP). These area are very vulnerable to
commercial exploitation and development, farming activities along with crops, high
grazing pressure and wood consumption from nearby villages. Instead of using
forested area for new agriculture land, the utilisation of fallow land shall be endorsed
as an alternative site for productive and profitable activities as long as the area is
suitable, in the sense that it is not within protection area or within a critical ecosystem
such as peat swamp. This approach is also good to avoiding the deterioration forested
area.
Unfortunately a map with updated fallow land cover in the areas of Aceh Singkil,
Aceh Selatan, Nagan Raya and Aceh Barat Daya (herein after referred to as the study
sites) is not available. Therefore, the study site represents an appropriate location to
apply remote-sensing techniques to prepare and update fallow land-cover map.
Remotely sensed data from airborne or space-borne sensors which provides a spatially
extensive means to produce maps of the surface cover types and are capable of
providing accurate and cost effective information about any given area on the earth’s
surface at short intervals and on continuous basis.
2. Definition
Lands without utilization for productive agriculture activity could be categorized as
fallow lands. These are for example lands that were opened for agriculture or logging
concession and then left within a period between 2 or 3 years. The vegetation of this
land is bared and covered by unproductive vegetation such as grass, shrub, and bush
(Karana and Abdurahman,1994)
Fallow land is defined as unused land that is left to its own natural growth and not
planted with seeds. In Remote sensing term, such land can be categorized as shrub,
bush, grass land or bare land.
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3. Method
Satellite sensor of Landsat TM acquired on 2009 and SPOT 4 acquired on 2006 were
used as baseline for multi temporal analysis. The visual interpretation was used to
recognizing the type of fallow land. False color band combination is used to simplify
the identification of the land cover’s type (bare land, shrub, grass or bush).
Vegetation can be distinguished using remote sensing data mostly from other (mainly
inorganic) materials by virtue of its notable absorption in the red and blue segments of
the visible spectrum, its higher green reflectance and, especially, its extra ordinary
strong reflectance in the near-IR. Fallow land comprises of bare, shrub, grass and
bush has weak reflectance in the near-IR, but strong in blue segment. Polygons
representing homogenous sites for fallow land type were identified and marked onto
the both satellite sensor data, and if a polygon of both interpretation result overlapp
each other, then it can be categorized as fallow land.
In order to understand the distribution of fallow land in each District and its spatial
relation with critical land such as swamp area, the latest has to as well be identified.
This approach will be effective to see whether fallow land is located on dry land or
swamp area. If fallow land falls on or adjacent to swamp area, then it should be
restored or be rehabilitated. Fallow land that falls on dry land will be verified with
forest status. Using overlay technique, fallow land in protected forest or conservation
area can be separated from potential fallow land for agriculture.
4. Results
4.1.
Aceh Singkil
Distribution of fallow land and swamp found in Aceh Singkil is shown in Fig.1
Fig.1 Distribution of fallow land in Aceh Singkil
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The total fallow land found in Aceh Singkil measures 4312.94 ha, distributed in 58
patches, and swamp area of 37840.52 Ha. Identified fallow land is divided into two
categories, the one on dry land and another one on swamp/peat. The total area of
fallow land located on dry land, which can be used as alternative site for farming or
plantation activities is of 2922.41 ha, while fallow land identified on swamp/peat is of
1390.53 ha.
An overlay of fallow land on dry soil on forest area results the information on which
areas can be proposed for profitable activities and those not suitable for this purpose,
such as fallow land within protected forest or within conservation forest. Fig. 2 shows
the distribution of fallow land within forest area.
Fig 2. Distribution of fallow land and forest status in Aceh Singkil
The above figure shows that most of dry fallow land is located within the area of
production forest covering 1974.92 ha or 67.58% of total dry fallow land and the
remaining 947.49 ha is non forest area known as Areal Penggunaan Lain (Area for
Other Purpose). Meanwhile, 364.63 ha of the total fallow land is on swamp/peat
(1390.53 ha) located within conservation area that must be rehabilitated to its original
functioning ecosystem. This protected area is shown as a red polygon. Area that is
allowed to be developed is shown in light red colour.
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4.2.
Aceh Selatan
Distribution of fallow land and swamp found in Aceh Selatan is shown in Fig.3
Fig.3 Distribution of fallow land in Aceh Selatan
The total fallow land found in Aceh Selatan covers 21474.35 ha, distributed in 77
patches, and swamp area is 86784.62 ha. From the total size of identified fallow land,
9265.74 ha (15 patches) is previously cleared, then degraded, peat swamp while dry
fallow land covers 12208.61 ha (62 patches).
Further, these polygons of dry fallow land is overlaid with forest status map resulting
dry fallow land in protective area covering 2925.87 ha (23.97 % of total dry fallow
land) and in conservation forest covering 800.75 ha (6.56% of total dry fallow
land).The remaining 8482 ha are the fallow land that can be used as potential farming
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land extension consisting of production forest 512.67 ha (4.20% of total dry fallow
land), limited production forest 193.42 ha (1.58% of total dry fallow land) and non
forest status/ APL seluas 7775.90 ha (63.69% of total dry fallow land). All those
fallow lands within peat swamp, both within protective or non-protective area are not
supposed to be developed, but are to be rehabilitated into the original condition. Fig. 4
shows the distribution of fallow land in comparison to forest area. The red colour
indicates fallow land that overlap with protected areas. Fallow land that allowed to
developed is represented by light re color
Fig 4. Distribution of fallow land and forest status in Aceh Selatan
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4.3.
Aceh Barat Daya
The total fallow land found in Aceh Barat Daya covers 15636.81 ha, distributed in 38
patches, and swamp area of 5825.70 ha. From the total size of identified fallow land,
5799.03 ha (20 patches) represent dry fallow land, while 9837.78 ha (18 patches) are
covering previously cleard, then abandoned, peat swamp. Distribution of fallow land
and swamp found in Aceh Barat Daya is shown in the following Fig.5.
Fig.5 Distribution of fallow land in Aceh Barat Daya
To identify fallow land suitable for alternative farming site, it is overlaid with forest
status map resulting dry fallow land within protective forest covering 2541.71 ha
(43.83 % of total dry fallow land ), while the remaining of 3257.32 ha (56.17% of
total dry fallow land) fall outside of forest area with good potential for farming
extension of farming land. All fallow land within peat swamp, although not located
within protective area shall be rehabilitated into original function. Fig. 6 shows the
distribution of fallow land with the red colour indicating fallow land that overlap with
protected forest, and light red colour indicating fallow land that allowed to be
developed.
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Fig 6. Distribution of fallow land and forest status in Aceh Barat Daya
4.4.
Nagan Raya
The total fallow land found in Nagan Raya measures 31924.177 ha, distributed in 101
patches, and identified swamp area is 12608.50 ha. From the total size identified,
22378.23 ha (20 patches) is dry fallow land, while 9545.95 Ha (27 patches) is ,
previously cleard, then abandoned, peat swamp. Distribution of fallow land and
swamp found in Nagan Raya shown in the following Fig.7
To identify fallow land suitable for farming activities, it is overlaid with the forest
status map, resulting that there is fallow land of 3604.53 ha within protective forest
area (16.11 % of total dry fallow land ), while the remaining of 18773.69 ha (83.89
%) represents dry fallow land consisting of 1894.48 ha (8.47% of total dry fallow
land) within production forest area and 16879.21 ha (75.43% of total dry fallow land)
within non forest area, which all have the potential to be used for the estension of
farming lands. All fallow land laid on peat swamp area, although not within protective
area, should be rehabilitated into its original condition. The following Fig. 8 shows
the distribution of fallow land, with the red colour indicating fallow land overlapping
with protective forest and the light red colour indicating fallow land suitable to be
developed.
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Fig.7 Distribution of fallow land in Nagan Raya
Fig 8. Distribution of fallow land and forest status in Nagan Raya
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4.5 Palm Oil Concession Within Peat Land Areas.
Ideally peat land is not suitable for any kind of agriculture commodities, for it has
been shortage of soil nutrition and possible causing instability of ecology dynamic
and disturbing hydrology process. However, some of oil palm concessions that
operating in the four districts laid on swamp/peat areas, particularly in Aceh Singkil
District and Nagan Raya District. To obtain clear description of peat lands areas that
occupied by concession then the peat land areas divided into two categories, the one is
fallow swamp and the second is undisturbed swamp. Areas which identified as fallow
swamp mean that areas occupied by concession and has been opened but unmanaged
properly, while undisturbed swamp is occupied by concession but still isn’t opened
yet.
Peat land area occupied by palm oil concession identified in Aceh Singkil measures
11,301.27 ha, distributed into the fallow swamp area and undisturbed swamp area.
The total area concessions located on the fallow swamp area is of 332.08 Ha, while
laid on undisturbed swamp is of 10,969.19 Ha. Fig 9. shows the distribution of palm
oil concession within peatland areas in Aceh Singkil District.
The below figure shows that 9 companies has concession right on peatland area in
Aceh Singkil. Existence of these concessions potentially threatening the present of
peatswamp land in Aceh Singkil since in this district there are a lot of swamp area still
remaining.
Fig. 9 Palm Oil Concession Within Peatland Areas in Aceh Singkil District
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In Aceh Selatan District there are only two oil palm concessions right registered at
National Land Agency (BPN), and both of them are in silence activity now. The
peatlands area has been opened and then left for long time reduced the land to fallow.
Total area of fallow swamp areas in both of the concessions is of 4256.04 Ha and
most of them holds by PTP 1 which known as national estate company. Distribution
of concessions within fallow swamp in Aceh Selatan District shown in Fig.10
Fig. 10 Palm Oil Concession Within Peatland Areas in Aceh Selatan District
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The total peat land identified in Aceh Barat Daya is of 15,663.48 Ha which is engaged
by oil palm concession is of 11,965.91 Ha or 76 % from the total peatland in this
district. This swamp area is exist in the Tripa Swamp Ecosystem and constitutes part
of the famous Leuser Ecosystem. Condition of peat land which taken by concession is
poor generally while 7715.65 ha opened and the rest (4,250.26 Ha) threatened vanish
by future development of palm oil. Ironically, there is disruption occurred in two of
three companies (PT Cemerlang Abadi and PT. Patriot Guna Sakti) while District
Government did not acknowledged those companies and take over the operation by it
self. A new concession, PT Dua Perkasa Lestari has just been engaged to operate in
the rest primary swamp area. This concession is ready to open all of their concession
right including 1908.37 Ha primary deep swamp forest.
Distribution of concessions within fallow swamp in Aceh Barat Daya District shown
in Fig.11
Fig. 11 Palm Oil Concession Within Peatland Areas in Aceh Barat Daya District
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Naturally, coastal areas in Nagan Raya District is swamped along the coastline. There
was a big swamp area known as Tripa Peat Swamp and part of Leuser Ecosystem and
some of swamp areas distributed partially. Currently, only 26778.10 Ha peat land
remaining in Nagan Raya District with half of them (62.70%) owned by palm oil
concession. Total number of peat land taken by oil palm concession in Nagan Raya is
about 16,791.51 Ha, and most of them is in good condition or undisturbed relatively
measures 13,318.36 Ha, while reduced into fallow land is of 3473.14 Ha. Most of rest
primary swamp forest owned by PT Surya Panen Subur 2 (7,478.21 Ha) and PT
Kalista Alam ( 1,851.46 Ha) on Tripa Peat Swamp Ecosystem and PT Fajar Baizury
& Brothers on Tadu Swamp (2348.047 Ha).
Tripa Peat Swamp ecosystem was a natural peat swamp forest which was prime
habitat for the Sumatran Orangutan, and the Sumatran tiger. This peat ecosystem is
also important for its hydrological function where peat stores water preventing
flooding of surrounding areas, and provides a continuous source of water in dry
periods. It is also important in preventing intrusion of saltwater from the adjacent
coastline. Present of oil palm concessions in this area should be cancelled in order to
ensure the function of this unique ecosystem can works properly.
Distribution of concessions within fallow swamp in Aceh Barat Daya District shown
in Fig.12
Fig. 12 Palm Oil Concession Within Peatland Areas in Nagan Raya District
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Conclusion
The total amount of existing fallow land found in the whole study area is 73348.27 ha,
of which Nagan Raya is the largest existing fallow land found compared with another
district. Number of fallow land situated on swamp or protected areas and non
protected areas are quite balanced with 39912.86 ha covering swamp or protected
areas and 33435.41 ha of fallow land on dry land and non protected areas. For the
details see Table 1.
Fallow land identified in swamp or protected areas should be recovered and
rehabilitated especially if the land lays within protected areas, while fallow land on
dry and non protected areas could be developed into cultivation area or agriculture
activities such as farming, plantation, crops, and agro-forestry. Fallow land that
situated on Production Forest areas might be develop to support Government
Program on developing Community based Small Scale Forest Estate (Hutan Tanaman
Rakyat and Hutan Kemasyarakatan) which represent a priority programme by
Forestry Departement of Indonesia currently.
Existence of Palm Oil Concession within peatl seand in the four District in fact
threatened swamp landscape and could damage the function of swamp ecosystem. In
Aceh Barat Daya District and Nagan Raya District more 50 % of peat land areas
engaged by palm oil concession and most of them still undisturbed swamp forest. It is
better when the company focusing on how to managed the fallow land on their
concession rather than opening or clearing the undisturbed swamp.
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Table 1. Summary of Fallow Land by District and Area Characteristic.
Fallow Land (Ha)
District
On Dry Land Area
Non Protected Areas
Forest area status
Non Forest Status
1974.92
947.49
Total
On Swamp Area
Protected Areas
Aceh Singkil
1390.53
(inc.364.63 Ha in
protected area)
0
Aceh Selatan
9265.74
(inc.3585.77 Ha in
protected area)
3726.62
706.09
7775.9
21474.35
Aceh Barat Daya
9837.78
2541.71
0
3257.32
15636.81
Nagan Raya
9545.95
3604.53
1894.48
16879.21
31924.17
30040.00
9872.86
4575.49
28859.92
73348.27
Total
Recommendation
Restoration
Rehabiltation
Restoration
Rehabiltation
Agroforestry
Non Timber Forest Product
HTR/HKM
Agriculture
Crops Cultivation
Farming
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4312.94
Table 2. Summary of Palm Oil Concessions that Engaged within Peat Land by
District
District / Peatland Area
Aceh Singkil
Concession Name
Peat Land Areas
Hectares
PT.Lembah Bakti
fallow on swamp
79.32
PT.Patriot Rimba Nusantara
fallow on swamp
141.80
Total Peat land : 39,231.05 Ha
PT.Perbulan
fallow on swamp
103.73
Percentage owned by concession: 28.81%
PT.Uber Traco (2 concession)
fallow on swamp
7.23
332.08
Sub Total
PT.Delima Makmur (3 concession)
peat swamp
4359.67
PT.Lembah Bakti
peat swamp
387.76
PT.Patriot Rimba Nusantara
peat swamp
2143.56
PT.Uber Traco (2 concession)
peat swamp
3530.27
Transmigrasi
peat swamp
547.92
Sub Total
10969.19
Total
11301.27
Aceh Selatan
Total Peat land : 96050.36 Ha
Asdal Prima Lestari
fallow on swamp
120.07
Percentage owned by concession:4.43%
PTP I
fallow on swamp
4135.97
4256.04
Total
Aceh Barat Daya
PT Cemerlang Abadi
fallow on swamp
1361.05
Total Peat land : 15,663.48 Ha
PT Dua Perkasa Lestari
fallow on swamp
770.65
Percentage owned by concession:76.39%
PT.Patriot Guna Sakti
fallow on swamp
5583.96
7715.65
Sub Total
PT Cemerlang Abadi
swamp
405.87
PT Dua Perkasa Lestari
swamp
1908.37
PT.Patriot Guna Sakti
swamp
1936.01
4250.26
Sub Total
11965.91
Total
Nagan Raya
PT. Fajar Baizury & Brothers
fallow on swamp
1140.469
Total Peat land: 26778.10 Ha
PT. SOCFINDO
fallow on swamp
139.097
Percentage owned by concession:62.70%
PT.Beurata Subur
fallow on swamp
701.846
PT.GSM
fallow on swamp
481.135
PT.Surya Panen Subur 2 (AAL)
fallow on swamp
1010.592
3473.139
Sub Total
PT Kalista Alam
swamp
1851.466
PT. Fajar Baizury & Brothers
swamp
2348.047
PT. SOCFINDO
swamp
294.471
PT.GSM
swamp
337.436
PT.Kalista Alam
swamp
1008.732
PT.Surya Panen Subur 2 (AAL)
swamp
7478.215
Sub Total
13318.367
Total
16791.506
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