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RAPID AGRO-BIODIVERSITY APPRAISAL (RABA) in the context of Environmental Services Rewards

Agro-biodiversity as ecosystem service under threat

With rapid deforestation across the tropics, biodiversity loss is a global concern. Until recently, most biodiversity conservation approaches were based on a spatial segregation of functions and was focused on 'protected areas' plus 'intensive agriculture'. The results of such endeavours, however, remain less than satisfactory. A second approach is based on 'integration' of functions and on maintaining substantial biodiversity within productive landscapes. A combination of the two approaches is most likely to achieve the joint goals, but it includes 'integrated' systems where the 'conservation' and 'economic development' goals compete. Specific incentives that represent the 'conservation' stakeholders may be needed to keep the 'conservation' aspect of these systems in the land managers' attention.

Objectives of RABA

Assist potential investors in agro-biodiversity conservation to explore the potential benefits.
Assist the managers of agro-biodiverse rich landscapes to understand their key ‘selling ponts’.
Provide cost-effective approach to intermediaries.

RABA is a tool designed to appraise the perspectives of concerned stakeholders related to biodiversity conservation and the feasibility of a compensation or reward for environmental services (RES) in any area or landscape of interest. RABA uses different techniques and tools from Rapid Rural Appraisal, Stakeholder Analysis and exploration of Local Ecological Knowledge approaches. It captures the perspectives of seller, buyer and intermediaries and generates initial data necessary for sellers, intermediaries and buyers to engage in developing a reward system. RABA is not a stand-alone tool for assessment of detailed biodiversity richness. Selection of an area for potential RES mechanism is normally based on existing credible information about the richness or uniqueness of existing biodiversity that may be verified through local consultations. For areas where reliable biodiversity data are unavailable but necessary, the Quick Biodiversity Survey of indicator flora and fauna can be used as a complementary tool.

Steps in RABA

RABA has four stages for sellers and buyers to engage in arranging a RES mechanism, namely scoping, identifying potential partners, negotiating agreements and monitoring and evaluating compliance and outcomes. RABA itself is designed to cover the stages of scoping out the domain and identifying partners who will be engaged in the transactions. As an analytical framework, RABA offers an insight into and guidance on the important elements that should considered in developing a RES mechanism.

RABA Process

The initial stages consist of acquiring, collating and analysing secondary data. Selection of location can be based on available data and secondary information. Identification of land-uses and assessing potential threats are also important. Spatial analysis can provide baseline data to be used in pinpointing areas potential for conservation. Participatory mapping can be a useful starter, but spatial analysis using satellite imagery and aerial photographs is more objective and can be effective for planning and future monitoring. The next step is to identify threats to biodiversity conservation in the area of interest and opportunities to counter these threats. Both “very small” and “very big” threats can reduce the interest of potential buyers of environmental services. The “optimal threat level” for intervention is difficult to measure and depends on the context. Secondary data (bio-physical, ecological socio-economics, prevailing and future policies) enriches the understanding of past, current and possible future situations.

Stakeholder analysis identifies people and institutions with vested interests in resource management in the area. In essence, stakeholder analysis is a four-step process: identifying key stakeholders, assessing stakeholders' interest and potential impact, assessing influence and importance, and outlining a strategy for stakeholder participation. Understanding of power relations between and within stakeholder groups and conflicts, current and future, is necessary for developing appropriate strategies including RES. Expectations among stakeholders are also essential.

Assessment of local perception of agro-biodiversity indicates the relative importance local people place on existing biodiversity, hence the potential for conservation. Various aspects such as tenure and rights on land, social strata, economy and livelihoods, local knowledge about environment and agro-biodiversity, institutions, threats and opportunities, can be explored using various tools and methods.

Case study: Rubber agroforests in Bungo (Jambi, Indonesia)

Bungo is a district in Jambi Province that is located in between three national parks (Bukit 12 National Park, Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park and Kerinci Seblat National Park) on the island of Sumatra. The area harbours many endemic species and, at the same time, has been significantly impacted and altered by human activities. Like many other districts, Bungo is rapidly losing its forests; previously dominant low-land tropical forests with rich biodiversity have been replaced by monoculture cultivation. Habitat for most flora and fauna is disappearing very fast and now exists only in small “island” national parks and reserves. Fortunately, jungle rubber systems are still commonly practised in Bungo. Earlier research in Bungo indicates the 'jungle rubber' agroforests are becoming increasingly important as a reservoir of forest diversity and now provide some of the forest 'services' valued in natural forests. As the financial gains from monoculture plantations are much higher than from jungle rubber, land conversion to monocultures is taking place rapidly. A new approach of providing rewards for the environmental service of agro-biodiversity conservation in rubber agroforest systems was proposed as an alternative means by which the opportunity costs from alternative land uses can be offset. Hence, RABA was developed and tested in the area with summary findings as below:

The results of the RABA application in Bungo provided sufficient evidence and confidence to proceed to developing a reward mechanism. The understanding and recognition of environmental services of jungle rubber have increased both among the local villagers and the external stakeholders. Efforts to develop long-term benefits through eco-certification of jungle rubber are under way.

References

Kuncoro SA, van Noordwijk M, Martini E, Saipothong P, Areskoug V, Eka Dinata A and O'Connor T. 2006. Rapid Agro-Biodiversity Appraisal (RABA) in the Context of Environmental Service Rewards. Bogor, Indonesia. World Agroforestry Centre - ICRAF, SEA Regional Office. 106 p.
http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Publications/searchpub.asp?publishid=1496

Sites for RABA

Printed Flyer - English - Indonesian

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