Communities in the upper Sengkarang Watershed, Central Java, manage own-land around the Petungkriyono Forest using horticultural practices with adverse environmental effects, such as high erosion, low carbon absorption, and minimal biodiversity. Relung Indonesia, with support from the Indonesia Environment Fund (IEF), implemented a project to develop agroforestry and integrated farming in the area to address these challenges.

Relung Indonesia established an Agroforestry Seed Production Unit in collaboration with the Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) Karya Sejahtera in Tlogopakis Village, providing high-quality seedlings for forest farmers and local communities. The initial step in establishing the seed production unit involved creating a layout for the nursery site, including seedbed areas, nursery beds, water sources, and work sheds. Subsequently, land clearing and preparation, construction of fences, installation of water and electricity facilities, construction of work huts, procurement of coffee seeds, construction of seedbeds, preparation of planting media, and filling polybags were carried out. 60,000 coffee seedlings have been produced and are ready for planting.

Stakeholders involved in this project include BUMDes Tlogopakis, farmer groups, and young farmers in Tlogopakis Village. The successful output achieved is the production of 60,000 coffee seedlings that have been pruned and are ready for planting. Within 3 months, these coffee seedlings will be planted in locations prepared by the farmer groups.

By establishing the agroforestry seed production unit, communities in the upper Sengkarang Watershed can improve the quality of the environment and obtain new livelihood sources through the development of agroforestry and integrated farming. Implementing agroforestry practices is expected to transform monoculture land cover into multi-strata and multi-commodity systems, thereby contributing to increased carbon sequestration and reduced risks of natural disasters such as floods in downstream areas.

Contributors:

Yudistira Soeherman