Using Multidisciplinary Landscape Assessment (MLA) as a tool to achieve conservation in the Mamberamo Biodiversity Corridor

To follow up on the 2004 training activities, CI and CIFOR agreed to further collaborate and plan for conservation outcomes based on local land use and perceptions. The MLA approach was expanded to answer specific questions in order to involve local stakeholders into CI conservation plans in Mamberamo.

Our objectives were:

• to revisit the results of the 2004 MLA and to explore creative ways to utilize them.

• to improve capacity in adapting MLA methods to specific conservation objectives.

• to build a common understanding of the landscape between local communities and scientists as well as to promote discussion about natural resources conservation and sustainable development priorities, based on the participatory map.

• to provide a set of tools that can be used for negotiations on community-based natural resource allocation, conservation, and for land use planning.

A kick-off workshop in Jayapura in May 2006 recognized the specific needs of each stakeholder, and proposed new and complementary activities related to conservation. Discussions also focused on

Adaptation of the MLA methods

This field activity was based on the recommendations of the workshop. Kwerba and Papasena, two villages we covered in 2004, were selected for follow-up and a new site (Kay) was added, for testing the adapted set of methods.

Three major activities were carried out:

1. Socio-economic survey: data collection on family and clan significance in relation to land-ownership.
2. GPS ground checking, based on previous participatory mapping: mapping of important sites according to local people’s perceptions (rivers, sacred places, hunting places, etc). Results from ground check activities and discussions with villagers were used as a basis for zoning the future protected area, based on the actual land use.
3. Traditional monitoring for plants and animals: we studied the potential of existing monitoring practices in each village, for resources that could have economic value or/and that could be threatened.

Publications:

Boissiere, M., Liswanti, N., Padmanaba, M., Sheil, D.,  2008. In preparation: People Priorities and Perceptions. Towards Conservation Parnertship in Mamberamo. CIFOR, Bogor, Indoensia.