Conservation and Analog Forestry: Farming in the Buffer Zone
Sometimes innovation looks geometric. At least in Air Baru, a village in South Sumatra on the edge of the Bukit Barisan Selatan (BBS) National Park. On a hill across the river, newly planted stink bean, durian, avocado and coffee trees form an interesting pattern on the ground. They are part of an analog forestry project that was launched here in July 2025 in connection with the BBS Initiative.
The BBS Initiative is a three-year, community-based conservation project facilitated by Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS) Indonesia in the buffer zone of BBS National Park, covering three subdistricts in the districts of West Lampung and South Ogan Komering Ulu. The buffer zone of BBS National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most ecologically critical regions in Sumatra. Home to globally endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger, elephant, and rhinoceros, the park is surrounded by agricultural communities that rely heavily on smallholder farming.
Land Pressures and Climate Stress
Here, land pressures are intense due to population growth and recurring climate stress. The increasing unpredictability of rainfall patterns, linked to climate change, is weakening the resilience of traditional farming methods, while the heavy use of chemical pesticides has contributed to soil decline and water pollution. Encroachment, forest degradation, and conversion of natural ecosystems into monocultures such as coffee and other cash crops are ongoing threats to biodiversity and long-term ecosystem integrity.
Biodiversity Protection and Inclusive Development
Amidst these challenges, the Government of Indonesia has prioritized community-based conservation through its Perhutanan Sosial (Social Forestry) program, aiming to improve forest governance and enhance community access to sustainable forest management. At the same time, Indonesia’s commitment to emission reduction under the Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions and its FOLU Net Sink 2030 Strategy further underscore the urgency of integrated solutions that couple biodiversity protection with inclusive development.
An Integrated Approach to Conservation
The BBS Initiative facilitated by HRNS Indonesia aligns directly with these national frameworks and addresses the challenges through an integrated approach with three interconnected components. The Conservation component prioritizes community-driven forest protection through conservation agreements. The Sustainable Livelihoods component promotes analog forestry as a long-term pathway towards biodiversity-rich farms with diversified income streams. The Farmer Organization component is laying the groundwork for local ownership and long-term sustainability.
Analog forestry is a bottom-up approach where communities take the lead in designing their farms using four layers of highly valuable native plants while keeping records of their revenues. Through this approach, farmers begin to view their farms as biodiversity-rich business units - more resilient and productive compared to monoculture or simple intercropping systems”, explains Patrick Diaz, Project Manager at HRNS Indonesia
“For many smallholder farmers, the concept of environmental conservation has long been misunderstood, often perceived as prioritizing forest and wildlife protection at the expense of local livelihoods”, says Arman Ginting, Co-Country Manager HRNS Indonesia.
Tangible Benefits for Local Communities
The BBS Initiative’s design recognizes that lasting conservation is only possible when local farmers and communities see tangible benefits from protecting natural ecosystems. One of these farmers is Risoleh, the Chief of Air Baru village. Air Baru comprises six sub-villages with 300 farming households and 1,500 inhabitants. The average farm size is two hectares with robusta coffee grown as main crop. Recently, there was a human-wildlife conflict when an elephant entered the village. Risoleh and his fellow farmers have now signed a conservation agreement as part of the BBS Initiative, which clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of all parties.
“Conservation is not only beneficial for our own village but for our neighboring villages as well. We can serve as a buffer for biodiversity, and we want to learn about sustainable farming. Then we will be able to pass on our knowledge and educate other villagers”, says Risoleh, Chief of Air Baru village.
Analog Forestry is Promising
The farmers drive change as they commit to adopting analog forestry planting systems on their land. HRNS Indonesia supports this process by facilitating so called Farmer Field Schools (FFS), in which farmers gain hands-on training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), soil health and intercropping technique.
Analog forestry is promising for Risoleh and his fellow farmers because it allows them to diversify and increase their household income while protecting natural ecosystems. The approach is grounded in regenerative agriculture and crop diversification using a four-layer vegetation structure that mimics natural forest ecosystems: trees, shrubs, herbs, and ground cover.
Risoleh and the other farmers have already planted the first three layers with stink bean, durian and avocado in between coffee trees on the hill across the river. Next, the fourth layer as cover crops with chili, lemongrass and ginger will follow. This structure will soon support ecological functions like soil regeneration, microclimate control, and pest balance, while also creating year-round sources of food and income in Air Baru village in the buffer zone of BBS National Park.
