Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ecosystem-Based Strategies for Community Resilience to Climate Variability in Indonesia

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation in Practice

Part of the book series: Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research ((NTHR,volume 42))

Abstract

Rural communities have long been using ecosystems to sustain their livelihoods, especially in times of disasters when forests act as safety nets and natural buffers. However, it is less clear how climate variability influences changes in land uses, and their implications for human well-being. We examined how forests and trees can reduce human vulnerability by affecting the three components of vulnerability: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. A total of 24 focus group discussions and 256 household surveys were conducted in two smallholder-dominated rural landscapes in Indonesia, which were affected by floods, drought and disease outbreaks. Our results suggest that forests and trees are important in supporting community resilience and decreasing their vulnerabilities to climate-related stresses in different ways. The role of trees varied according to the type of ecosystem service, whether provisioning or regulating, in relation to the phase of the climatic hazard, either in the pre-disaster phase or in the post-disaster recovery phase. It is therefore important to distinguish between these elements when analyzing people’s responses to climatic variability in order to fully capture the contribution of forests and trees to reducing people’s vulnerability. Landscape spatial characteristics, environmental degradation and community awareness of climate variability are crucial because if their linkages are recognized, local people can actively manage natural resources to increase their resilience. Interventions related to forests and trees should take into consideration these aspects to make ecosystem services a valuable option for an integrated strategy to reduce disaster risks and climate-related vulnerabilities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adger N (1999) Social vulnerability to climate change and extremes in coastal Vietnam. World Dev 27(2):249–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adger N (2006) Vulnerability. Glob Environ Chang 16:268–281. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.02.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amdu B, Ayehu A, Deressa A (2013) Farmers’ perception and adaptive capacity to climate change and variability in the upper catchment of Blue Nile, Ethiopia. African Technology Policy Studies Network, ATPS working paper no 77

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrade Pérez A, Fernández Herrera B, Cazzolla Gatti R (eds) (2010) Building resilience to climate change: ecosystem-based adaptation and lessons from the field. IUCN, Gland, 164 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Angelsen A, Wunder S (2003) Exploring the forest – poverty link: key concepts, issues and research implications. CIFOR occasional paper 40

    Google Scholar 

  • Arkin H, Colton R (1963) Table for statistics. Barnes and Noble Publication: Barnes & Noble, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Boissière M, Locatelli B, Sheil D et al (2013) Local perceptions of climate variability and change in tropical forests of Papua, Indonesia. Ecol Soc 18(4):13. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-05822-180413

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosch JM, Hewlet JD (1982) A review of cacthment experiments to determine the effect of vegetation changes on water yield and evapotranspiration. J Hydrol 55:3–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CBD- Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2000) Report of the fifth meeting of the subsidiary body on scientific, technical and technological advice, Kenya

    Google Scholar 

  • CBD- Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2009) Connecting biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation: report of the second ad hoc technical expert group on biodiversity and climate change. Technical series no. 41, Montreal

    Google Scholar 

  • Colls A, Ash N, Ikkala N (2009) Ecosystem-based adaptation: a natural response to climate change. IUCN, Gland

    Google Scholar 

  • DFID- Department for International Development of the UK (1999) Sustainable Livelihoods Guidance Sheets, Numbers 1–8. Department for International Development, London. Also available on www.livelihoods.org

  • Ditsuwan T, Liabsuetrakul T, Chongsuvivatwong V et al (2011) Assessing the spreading patterns of dengue infection and chikungunya fever outbreaks in lower southern Thailand using a geographic information system. Ann Epidemiol 21(4):253–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doswald N, Osti M (2011) Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation and mitigation: good practice examples and lessons learned in Europe. The BfN-Skripten, Bonn

    Google Scholar 

  • Eakin H (2000) Smallholder maize production and climatic risk: a case study from Mexico. Clim Chang 45:19–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellison D, Futter N, Bishop K (2012) On the forest cover-water yield debate: from demand to supply-side thinking. Glob Chang Biol 18:806–820. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02589.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EM-DAT International Disaster Database (2013) Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. www.emdat.be. Accessed 28 Oct 2014

  • EU- Commission of the Europian Communities (2009) Adapting to climate change: towards a European framework for action. Commission of the European Communities, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2010) Global forest resources assessment 2010. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher M, Chaudhury M, McCusker B (2010) Do forests help rural households adapt to climate variability? Evidence from southern Malawi. World Dev 38(9):1241–1250. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.03.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folke C (2006) Resilience: the emergence of a perspective for social–ecological systems analyses. Glob Environ Chang 16:253–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gbetibouo GA (2008) How can African agriculture adapt to climate change? Insights from Ethiopia and South Africa: understanding farmers’ perceptions and adaptations to climate change and variability. The case of the Limpopo Basin, South Africa. IFPRI Research Brief 15–8

    Google Scholar 

  • GIZ, Göhler D, Müller F, Mytanz C et al (2013) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). In: Environment and climate change. Deutsche Gesellschaft für. Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

    Google Scholar 

  • Godoy R, Jacobson M, Wilkie D (1998) Strategies of rain-forest dwellers against misfortunes: the Tsimane’ Indians of Bolivia. Ethnology 37(1):55–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunderson LH, Holling CS (2002) Panarchy: understanding transformations in human and natural systems. Island Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey CA, Chacón M, Donatti CI et al (2013) Climate‐smart landscapes: opportunities and challenges for integrating adaptation and mitigation in tropical agriculture. Conserv Lett 7(2):77–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heath M, Phillips J, Munroe R et al (eds) (2009) Partners with nature: how healthy ecosystems are helping the world’s most vulnerable adapt to climate change. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Huffman GJ, Adler RF, Bolvin DT et al (2010) The TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA). In: Hossain F, Gebremichael M (eds) Satellite rainfall applications for surface hydrology. Springer, Dordrecht. ISBN: 978-90-481-2914-0, p 3–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Iglesias A, Rosenzweig C (2007) Climate and pest outbreaks. Encycl Pest Manag 2:87–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilstedt U, Malmer A, Verbeeten E et al (2007) The effect of afforestation on water infiltration in the tropics: a systematic review and meta-analysis. For Ecol Manag 251:45–51. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.06.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2007) Climate Change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. contribution of working group II to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2012) Summary for policymakers. In: Managing the risks of extreme events and disasters to advance climate change adaptation. A special report of working groups I and II of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Field CB, Barros V, Stocker TF et al (eds) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK/New York

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2014) Climate change 2014: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. contribution of working group II to the fifth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on cimate change. Field CB, Barros VR, Mach KJ et al Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • IUFRO (2009) Adaptation of forest and people to climate change – a global assessment report. Seppälä R, Buck A, Katila P (eds) IUFRO world series vol 22, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones L, Ludi E, Levine S (2010) Towards a characterisation of adaptive capacity: a framework for analysing adaptive capacity at the local level. Overseas Development Institute. Background Note, December 2010

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones HP, Hole DG, Zavaleta ES (2012) Harnessing nature to help people adapt to climate change. Nat Clim Chang 2:504–509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalinda T (2011) Multiple shocks and risk management strategies among rural households in Zambia’s Mazabuka District. J Sustain Dev 7(5):52–67. doi:10.5539/jsd.v7n5p52

    Google Scholar 

  • Kant S, Nautiyal JC, Berry RA et al (1996) Forest and economic welfare. J Econ Stud 23(2):31–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanjouw P (1999) Rural nonagricultural employment and poverty in Ecuador. Econ Dev Cult Chang 48(1):91–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liswanti N, Sheil D, Basuki I et al (2011) Falling back on forests: how forest-dwelling people cope with catastrophe in a changing landscape. Int For Rev 13(4):442–455

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKinnon K (1996) The ecology of Kalimantan. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Maddison DJ (2007) The perception of and adaptation to climate change in Africa. Research working paper of World Bank Policy, no 4308

    Google Scholar 

  • McSweeney K (2004) Natural insurance, forest access, and compounded misfortune: forest resources in smallholder coping strategies before and after Hurricane Mitch, northeastern Honduras. World Dev 33(9):1453–1471. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.10.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naylor RL, Battisti DS, Vimont DJ et al (2007) Assessing risks of climate variability and climate change for Indonesian rice agriculture. Proc Natl Acad Sci 104(19):7752–7757. doi:10.1073/pnas.0701825104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paavola J (2008) Livelihoods, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in Morogoro, Tanzania. Environ Sci Pol 11:642–654. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2008.06.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pattanayak SK, Kramer RA (2001) Worth of watersheds: a producer surplus approach for valuing drought mitigation in eastern Indonesia. Environ Dev Econ 6:123–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Percepatan Pembangunan Sanitasi Pembangunan [PPSP] (2013) Buku Putih Sanitasi. Kabupaten Kapuas Hulu, Indonesia

    Google Scholar 

  • Pramova E, Locatelli B, Brockhaus M et al (2012) Ecosystem services in the national adaptation programmes of action. Clim Pol 12(4):393–409. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2011.647848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raudsepp-Hearne C, Peterson GD, Tengö M et al (2010) Untangling the environmentalist’s paradox: why is human well-being increasing as ecosystem services degrade? Bioscience 60:576–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts D, Boon R, Diederichs N et al (2011) Exploring ecosystem-based adaptation in Durban, South Africa: “learning-by-doing” at the local government coal face. Environ Urban 24(1):167–195. doi:10.1177/0956247811431412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez JP, Beard TD, Bennett GS (2006) Trade-offs across space, time, and ecosystem services. Ecol Soc 11(1):28

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez Osuna V, Börner J, Nehren U et al (2014) Priority areas for watershed service conservation in the Guapi-Macacu region of Rio de Janeiro, Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Ecol Process 3:16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shackleton S, Shackleton C (2004) Everyday -resources are valuable enough for community-based natural resource management programme support: evidence from South Africa. In: Fabricius C, Koch E (eds) Rights, resources and rural development: community-based natural resource management in southern Africa. Earthscan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Simelton E, Quinn CH, Batisani N et al (2013) Is rainfall really changing? farmers’ perceptions, meteorological data, and policy implications. Clim Dev 5(2):123–138. doi:10.1080/17565529.2012.751893

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sudmeier-Rieux K, Masundire H, Rizvi A, Rietbergen S (eds) (2006) Ecosystems, livelihoods and disasters: an integrated approach to disaster risk management. IUCN, Gland/Cambridge, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Surono BT, Sudarno I, Wiryosujono S (1992) Geology of the Surakarta Giritontro Quadrangles, Java. Geological Research and Development Center, Bandung

    Google Scholar 

  • Takasaki Y, Barham B, Coomes O (2004) Risk coping strategies in tropical forests: floods, illnesses, and resource extraction. Environ Dev Econ 9:203–224. doi:10.1017/S1355770X03001232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas DS, Twyman C, Osbahr H et al (2007) Adaptation to climate change and variability: farmer responses to intra-seasonal precipitation trends in South Africa. Clim Chang 83:301–322. doi:10.1007/s10584-006-9205-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tompkins EL, Mensah A, King L et al (2013) An investigation of the evidence of benefits from climate compatible development. Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy. Working paper no 124. Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds, UK, 2013

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2012) Ecosystem-based adaptation guidance: moving from principles to practice. Travers A, Elrick C, Kay R et al (eds) United Nations Environment Programme Working Document 2012

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [UNFCCC] (2013) National inventory submissions. UNFCCC, Bonn

    Google Scholar 

  • Vincent JR, Kaosa-ard M, Worachai L et al (1995) The economics of watershed protection: a case study of Mae Taeng River, Thailand. TDRI and HIID, Bangkok/Cambridge, MA. Policy Brief

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel C (2000) Usable science: an assessment of long-term seasonal forecasts amongst farmers in rural areas of Sourth Africa. S Afr Geogr J 82(2):107–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Völker M, Waibel H (2010) Do rural households extract more forest products in times of crisis? evidence from the mountainous uplands of Vietnam. Forest Policy Econ 12(6):407–414. doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2010.03.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wattenbach M, Zebisch M, Hattermann F et al (2007) Hydrological impact assessment of afforestation and change in tree-species composition–a regional case study for the Federal State of Brandenburg (Germany). J Hydrol 346(1):1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wunder S, Börner J, Shively G (2014) Safety nets, gap filling and forests: a global-comparative perspective. World Dev 64(1):S29–S42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.03.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the local communities of Nanga Jemah, Tubang Jaya, Selopuro, Sendangsari for their participation in the research activities. We also thank Nyimas Wardah for her help in the study preparations and the fieldwork in West Kalimantan and Central Java; Siti Nurika Sulistiani and Tutup Kuncoro for their help in Central Java data collection; Serge Rafanoharana for his support in producing the maps; Glen Mulcahy, two anonymous reviewers, and the book editors for their valuable comments and reviews. This research was carried out by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry. It received financial support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) under the Agreement 63650.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIFOR, Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia

    Giacomo Fedele, Febrina Desrianti, Adi Gangga & Houria Djoudi

  2. CIRAD, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour Le Développement, UPR Forêts et Sociétés, Montpellier, France

    Giacomo Fedele & Bruno Locatelli

  3. CIFOR, Center for International Forestry Research, Lima, Peru

    Florie Chazarin & Bruno Locatelli

Authors
  1. Giacomo Fedele
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Febrina Desrianti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Adi Gangga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Florie Chazarin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Houria Djoudi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Bruno Locatelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giacomo Fedele .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Environment and Human Secu, United Nations University, Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Fabrice G. Renaud

  2. Commission on Ecosystem Management, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland

    Karen Sudmeier-Rieux

  3. Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch, United Nations Environment Programme, Geneva, Switzerland

    Marisol Estrella

  4. Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT), TH Köln, University of Applied Sciences, Köln, Germany

    Udo Nehren

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fedele, G., Desrianti, F., Gangga, A., Chazarin, F., Djoudi, H., Locatelli, B. (2016). Ecosystem-Based Strategies for Community Resilience to Climate Variability in Indonesia. In: Renaud, F., Sudmeier-Rieux, K., Estrella, M., Nehren, U. (eds) Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation in Practice. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, vol 42. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43633-3_23

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation