Research on Local-level Climate Adaptation and Governance of Landscape Management
This research focused on i) community leaders influencing changes in local livelihoods and resource use; ii) how village government officials navigated conflicting natural resource management incentives; and iii) how facilitated communication of scientific data on climate change vulnerability through community-driven development processes affected local development priorities.
Background
Land-use and natural resource governance were complex and varied in Indonesia. The effects of natural resource management incentives could be felt differently by different stakeholders, and the benefits and costs for gaining, maintaining and controlling access to resources were not always understood well, especially at local levels. While protecting natural resources often met global objectives of conserving forests or ocean landscapes, sequestering carbon, and protecting biodiversity, local communities were constantly vying for a position in changing governance relations and to protect their livelihoods, which were often predicated on access to natural resources. This research focused on i) community leaders influencing changes in local livelihoods and resource use; ii) how village government officials navigated conflicting natural resource management incentives, and iii) facilitated communication of scientific data on climate change vulnerability through community-driven development processes affected local development priorities. The research employed empirical rigour while aiming conclusions at policy-makers and influencers.
We worked together with the University of Gadjah Mada on this research.
The team included:
- Ellyn Damayanti
- Rodd Myers
- Ahmad Maryudi, UGM
- Rahayu Harjanthi
- Emma Soraya, UGM
- Yustina Octifanny
Approach
Sites in Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara, Papua, Sulawesi, and Sumatra were selected for the study, including coastal, forest, and agricultural landscapes in and near conservation areas.
Dala collected data through interviews for 10 cases that demonstrated community leaders influencing changes in local livelihoods and resource use in five regions in Indonesia. Each case had 10 interviews and a video ethnography approach was employed.
Another 15 villages were selected to have 50 participants in three focus group discussions and five key informant interviews focused on how village government officials navigated conflicting natural resource management incentives, and how communication of scientific data on climate change vulnerability through community-driven development processes affected local development priorities. In these villages, two treatment and one control group were applied to understand how different forms of communication of climate change data affected the ways in which respondents prioritised climate change adaptation.
In total, 925 respondents were included in the study.
Results
This work was part of the Social Dimensions of Climate Change in Indonesia (2023) publication.
Videos
Dana Desa untuk beradaptasi dengan kerentanan perubahan iklim di Indonesia
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