LEAF Indonesia

About our research

LEAF Indonesia is a transdisciplinary research initiative funded by the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC), under UK Official Development Assistance (ODA). It aims to explore sustainable land-use pathways within Indonesia’s Food Estate Programme, balancing biodiversity, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, food security, and poverty alleviation. The research of LEAF Indonesia is titled: "Exploring sustainable land use pathways for ecosystem, food security, and poverty alleviation: Opportunities for Indonesia's food estate programme."

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Research objectives:

  1. To analyze the land-use dynamics and ecological, social, and economic implications of Indonesia’s Food Estate Programme.
  2. To assess the interactions between biodiversity, food security, and rural livelihoods across diverse landscapes in Gorontalo, Kalimantan, and Papua.
  3. To co-develop alternative land-use scenarios through participatory workshops, spatial mapping, and modelling (LIMMMA platform).
  4. To integrate scientific research with local and traditional knowledge, ensuring that future pathways reflect both evidence and community perspectives.
  5. To facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues, namely local governments, civil society, academia, and farmers, towards inclusive and evidence-based land-use planning.

Research significance:

  1. Policy Relevance: Generates scientific evidence to guide food estate policies in alignment with biodiversity protection, climate resilience, and equitable rural development.
  2. Practical Application: Provides tools and insights for farmers and local communities to adopt sustainable practices beyond monocultures, such as agroforestry and diversified farming.
  3. Scientific Contribution: Demonstrates an interdisciplinary methodology that combines quantitative modelling with qualitative, participatory approaches.
  4. Social and Environmental Justice: Highlights risks of environmental degradation and community vulnerability, while offering inclusive alternatives through the approach of gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI).
  5. Global Impact: Produces lessons from Indonesia’s experience that inform sustainable agricultural and land-use strategies in other regions facing similar challenges.

Our approach

  • Sustainable land-use

    Developing pathways to sustainable land use practices that support both food security and environmental protection.

  • Community engagement

    Working with local communities, governments, and other organisations to create inclusive solutions.

  • Innovative tools

    Developing evidence-based policy recommendations, advanced mapping and AI-based modelling, and tools for better decision-making.

Methodology

  • Case studies in 3 regions

    Gorontalo, East Kalimantan, and West Papua, capturing a diverse range of land-use systems from monocrops to agroforestry, biodiversity, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, food security, and poverty alleviation.

  • Data integration

    Combining quantitative (spatial/data modelling and statistics) and qualitative (local wisdom, policy documents, focused group discussion, and interviews) insights to assess multiple landscape values.

  • Participatory action research

    Includes workshops, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building to ensure local relevance.

  • Tool development

    Creating an open-access mapping and modelling platform, referred to as LIMMMA, to visualize historical land-use changes and explore alternative futures.