Yayasan Tanah Merdeka

FINAL PROJECT STATUS BRIEF 2001

Facilitation to strengthen adat institutions in managing agrarian resources

Yayasan Tanah Merdeka
Jl. Tanjung Manimbaya No. 111 B
Palu, Central Sulawesi

Geographical focus

Lore Lindu National Park, Gawalise, Buol, and Togean islands

Coastal and marine ecosystems/ tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests

March 2000 - March 2001

Yayasan Tanah Merdeka (YTM) was founded in 1992 in the city of Palu, Central Sulawesi, in response to the increasing threats facing adat communities from large scale developments. YTM has long facilitated collaborative efforts among local NGOs and adat institutions in obtaining recogniton of adat rights to natural resources in and adjacent to the Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi. YTM has facilitated land tenure assessment, community mapping, participatory resources inventory, policy dialogue, and negotiations with government when necessary. One important outcome of YTM and its local partners has been the recognition of Katu communities' rights by the Lore Lindu National Park in 1998. YTM and its local partners have documented the whole process of their collaborative efforts with the adat communities, starting with the case of Lore Lindu Nature Reserve, then Lake Lindu's dam and large-scale power plant development plan, and the Lore Lindu National Park. These experiences are now being used as a learning model to strengthen adat institutions in managing natural resources.

Under this grant, YTM will extend its facilitation, by supporting the Yayasan Pendidikan Rakyat (Peoples Education Foundation), Yayasan Dopalak, the Central Sulawesi Adat Communities Alliance (AMASUTA), and Yayasan Tolaka (Togean islands' based community group). Together they will undertake the following strategic activities.

Participatory tenure studies will solicit historical and factual pictures of adat-based natural resource management systems in relation to agrarian policy. YTM will organize studies in Napu Valley (North Lore) and Gintu Valley (South Lore). Both sites have already been mapped by the local communities with YTM assistance. In these studies YTM will also collaborate with Yayasan Bantuan Hukum (YBH) Bantaya, in order to explore legal options.

Information generated from the studies will become the basis for developing an information system on adat-based natural resource management systems. YTM and others will conduct community mapping in Gawalise (30,000 ha) in District of Palu and Buol (20,000 ha) in District of Buol.

In collaboration with AMASUTA, YTM will facilitate the founding and management of a joint forum of adat institutions from throughout Central Sulawesi. The forum is intended to become a learning and exchange medium among adat communities concerning rights, development practices and policies, and investment plans.

In collaboration with the Community Organizing Learning Network, YTM will organize an internship program for community organizers from adat institutions in Central Sulawesi. This program will be located in Katu, Lore Lindu National Park. Community mapping and participatory resources inventory will also become part of the internship program.

In collaboration with Sistem Hutan Kerakyatan Central Sulawesi and YBH Bantaya, YTM will develop an outreach strategy to disseminate knowledge about adat-based natural resource maangement systems in Central Sulawesi to motivate other adat institutions and NGOs in Central Sulawesi and other provinces, as well as to increase understanding and awareness of the government to the existence of adat systems. Along with YBH Bantaya, AMASUTA, and other NGOs, YTM will continue policy dialogues with the local government and the district legislative body.

YTM collaborated with Yayasan Pendidikan Rakyat (YPR) to conduct community mapping and community organizing to deal with the top-down planning of government. During March and April YTM organized village workshops to introduce the participatory tenure study and its benefits for local communities. The workshops were held in North Lore (Wanga and Watumaeta villages). Results of the workshops include a common understanding of conflicts in natural resources management among the local communities, Lore Lindu National Park office, and PT Hasfarm; and the development of the approach and methods of the tenure study.

YPR has now completed the community mapping process. Community members and YPR documented the biodiversity of Donggala mountain in Gawalise, as part of the mapping. These community maps and information are now being used as the main tool to reclaim about 480 hectares of land which had become part of a coconut plantation. The community maps have also been presented to the local government to gain their support. The district and sub-district heads have indicated their respect of the community decision, and have suggested they should take this case to court. The conversion of the forest into a coconut plantation in 1990 was licensed by the government without gaining approval from the indigenous people who claimed this area. But the company has not cultivated the entire disputed area. The community has now agreed to allow the coconut plantation to remain, and to be included within the spatial land use plan. There are 124 families that live there and work in the plantation. Most were recruited as workers for the plantation. There is an agreement among the Da'a people and the plantation workers that the latter can stay at the plantation while negotiations are ongoing. To extend their gains, YPR and YTM are supporting the community to found a consortium of local as well as regional adat institutions.

Responding to a request made by adat communities in Soroako area, YTM facilitated community mapping. The communities wanted these maps as a tool in ongoing negotiations with a nickel mining company that is planning expansion in the area. YTM has also facilitated and assisted the Central Sulawesi Adat Communities Alliance (AMASUTA) in conducting the first Central Sulawesi Adat Congress. The congress was attended by 120 representatives of adat institutions from throughout Central Sulawesi. Results of the congress include forming the AMASUTA Executive and the 2000-2003 work program.

[ Bantaya ] - [ ELSAM ] - [ FPK ] - [ Hualopu ] - [ JKPP ] - [ Jaring Pela ] - [ KalBar SHK ]

[ Kemala ] - [ KonPenMA ] - [ KPA ] - [ KPSHK ] - [ LATIN ] - [ LMAA ] - [ LPPMA ]

[ Pancurkasih ] - [ PLASMA ] - [ Pro Plasma ] - [ PUTER ] - [ RMI ] - [ Telapak ] - [ WWF Sahul ]

[ YBAW ] - [ YLBHI ] - [ YPLHC ] - [ YTM ]



	FINAL PROJECT STATUS BRIEF 2001

Project	Facilitation to strengthen adat institutions in managing agrarian resources
Partner	Yayasan Tanah Merdeka Jl. Tanjung Manimbaya No. 111 B Palu, Central Sulawesi
Geographical focus	Lore Lindu National Park, Gawalise, Buol, and Togean islands
Biome	Coastal and marine ecosystems/ tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests
Timing	March 2000 - March 2001
Description	Yayasan Tanah Merdeka (YTM) was founded in 1992 in the city of Palu, Central Sulawesi, in response to the increasing threats facing adat communities from large scale developments. YTM has long facilitated collaborative efforts among local NGOs and adat institutions in obtaining recogniton of adat rights to natural resources in and adjacent to the Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi. YTM has facilitated land tenure assessment, community mapping, participatory resources inventory, policy dialogue, and negotiations with government when necessary. One important outcome of YTM and its local partners has been the recognition of Katu communities' rights by the Lore Lindu National Park in 1998. YTM and its local partners have documented the whole process of their collaborative efforts with the adat communities, starting with the case of Lore Lindu Nature Reserve, then Lake Lindu's dam and large-scale power plant development plan, and the Lore Lindu National Park. These experiences are now being used as a learning model to strengthen adat institutions in managing natural resources. Under this grant, YTM will extend its facilitation, by supporting the Yayasan Pendidikan Rakyat (Peoples Education Foundation), Yayasan Dopalak, the Central Sulawesi Adat Communities Alliance (AMASUTA), and Yayasan Tolaka (Togean islands' based community group). Together they will undertake the following strategic activities. Participatory tenure studies will solicit historical and factual pictures of adat-based natural resource management systems in relation to agrarian policy. YTM will organize studies in Napu Valley (North Lore) and Gintu Valley (South Lore). Both sites have already been mapped by the local communities with YTM assistance. In these studies YTM will also collaborate with Yayasan Bantuan Hukum (YBH) Bantaya, in order to explore legal options. Information generated from the studies will become the basis for developing an information system on adat-based natural resource management systems. YTM and others will conduct community mapping in Gawalise (30,000 ha) in District of Palu and Buol (20,000 ha) in District of Buol. In collaboration with AMASUTA, YTM will facilitate the founding and management of a joint forum of adat institutions from throughout Central Sulawesi. The forum is intended to become a learning and exchange medium among adat communities concerning rights, development practices and policies, and investment plans. In collaboration with the Community Organizing Learning Network, YTM will organize an internship program for community organizers from adat institutions in Central Sulawesi. This program will be located in Katu, Lore Lindu National Park. Community mapping and participatory resources inventory will also become part of the internship program. In collaboration with Sistem Hutan Kerakyatan Central Sulawesi and YBH Bantaya, YTM will develop an outreach strategy to disseminate knowledge about adat-based natural resource maangement systems in Central Sulawesi to motivate other adat institutions and NGOs in Central Sulawesi and other provinces, as well as to increase understanding and awareness of the government to the existence of adat systems. Along with YBH Bantaya, AMASUTA, and other NGOs, YTM will continue policy dialogues with the local government and the district legislative body.
Results	YTM collaborated with Yayasan Pendidikan Rakyat (YPR) to conduct community mapping and community organizing to deal with the top-down planning of government. During March and April YTM organized village workshops to introduce the participatory tenure study and its benefits for local communities. The workshops were held in North Lore (Wanga and Watumaeta villages). Results of the workshops include a common understanding of conflicts in natural resources management among the local communities, Lore Lindu National Park office, and PT Hasfarm; and the development of the approach and methods of the tenure study. YPR has now completed the community mapping process. Community members and YPR documented the biodiversity of Donggala mountain in Gawalise, as part of the mapping. These community maps and information are now being used as the main tool to reclaim about 480 hectares of land which had become part of a coconut plantation. The community maps have also been presented to the local government to gain their support. The district and sub-district heads have indicated their respect of the community decision, and have suggested they should take this case to court. The conversion of the forest into a coconut plantation in 1990 was licensed by the government without gaining approval from the indigenous people who claimed this area. But the company has not cultivated the entire disputed area. The community has now agreed to allow the coconut plantation to remain, and to be included within the spatial land use plan. There are 124 families that live there and work in the plantation. Most were recruited as workers for the plantation. There is an agreement among the Da'a people and the plantation workers that the latter can stay at the plantation while negotiations are ongoing. To extend their gains, YPR and YTM are supporting the community to found a consortium of local as well as regional adat institutions. Responding to a request made by adat communities in Soroako area, YTM facilitated community mapping. The communities wanted these maps as a tool in ongoing negotiations with a nickel mining company that is planning expansion in the area. YTM has also facilitated and assisted the Central Sulawesi Adat Communities Alliance (AMASUTA) in conducting the first Central Sulawesi Adat Congress. The congress was attended by 120 representatives of adat institutions from throughout Central Sulawesi. Results of the congress include forming the AMASUTA Executive and the 2000-2003 work program.