Conflict resolution for oil palm plantation by participatory spatial planning in Seruyan watershed

Seruyan Watershed lies in the middle of Seruyan Hilir District of Central Kalimantan province of Indonesia.The main threat to the rainforest in the region is the Spatial plan for Provincial Area (Rencana Tata Ruang Wilayah Propinsi/RTRWP 2003-2004), which is dominated by an oil palm plantation development plan. Oil palm plantation development in Seruyan Watershed would not only cause social conflicts and poverty, but would also have serious impact on Tanjung Puting National Park, that is very close to the area of the oil palm plantation development. An interesting development in Seruyan Watershed is particularly occurring in the communities of Banua Usang and Palingkau who use maps as the negotiating means with the company concerned to maintain the area managed by the community. The company agreed to release ? 1,000 Ha of the area managed by the community from the concession area of the company by stating it on a memorandum of agreement. This success encourages some other communities in the neighbouring villages to do the same to anticipate the oil palm plantation development plan. Overall project goal is to achieve conflict resolution on oil palm plantation development by a Participatory Spatial Planning approach in Seruyan Watershed. Objectives: * Strengthening the people's organisation that can be involved in the district area development processes; * Developing an open communication between the community and the local government for every phase of regional development; * Preparing and proposing the participatory landscaping model plan to various parties involved in the regional development planning. The main planned activities: * Participatory mapping * Community organising (6 villages) * Documentary film making * Campaigning * Critical Law Training * Regency workshop * Study and Investigation The main results that can be expected: The realisation of participatory landscaping assures the community accessibility to the management of natural resources in Seruyan Watershed, halting the further development of oil palm plantations.

This project has been in operation for half of the project period (the second part is funded by 'Stichting Doen') and it is just starting to conduct the discussion and implementation processes in some project locations. The understanding and response of the community and stakeholders in Seruyan Watershed require time and an intensive approach, so that the program is properly understood and carried out. Participatory mapping has been carried out in 2 of the 7 villages. The villagers see that the project can help solve some of the problems they are facing, such as determining the borders between villages, between sub-districts, with TNTP and the operating plantation company. The project will help the community in improving their capacity in relation to the understanding of spatial planning concepts, the village and area planning and the participatory mapping techniques. The village and area planning will be the basis for the community to conduct dialogue with the parties in solving the border issue and the area management. It is important to keep the discussions going (within and between the villages and between the sub-district government and the villages) in order to increase involvement and support at local level and to develop community plans. The first phase focused on the processes of village and area planning. The next phase will focus on the dialogue for conflict resolution through negotiation and implementation of the planning.