As part of TUL-SEA activity in developing and testing the RAFT (Rapid Appraisal of Agro-Forestry Practices and Technology), a framework that provides guidelines for the description and analysis of the ways trees are used and of use to rural livelihoods, a two-week trip from 23 November to 6 December 2008 was conducted by Endri Martini (silviculturist), Elok Mulyoutami (anthropologist) and Arif Rahmanulloh (economist) in Batang Toru Watershed area, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The objective of the trip was to test RAFT framework in identifying types of utilisation, tree management and potencies of sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) as source of local people livelihood in Batang Toru watershed. The expected output of RAFT is recommendation on priority options for technological intervention to increase the value of trees or mixed tree-based gardens as a source of local livelihood.

“Bargot” is the local name for sugar palm or aren in Batang Toru area that is dominated by Batak ethnicity. Bargot (Arenga pinnata (Wurmb) Merr.) is a multi-purpose palm tree with economic value found in orangutan conservation area in Batang Toru Forest Block, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Bargot commonly grows along the riverside and on slopes and has a dense root structure that checks soil erosion. Farmers maintain bargot trees that grow spontaneously in their mixed tree-based gardens. The critically endangered Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii Less) also consumes bargot sap and fruits, as do palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Pallas), a species that is not threatened (IUCN red-list species, 2008). Farmers say the seeds of bargot are spread by these animals.

We collected data in five villages of four sub districts (Sibulan-bulan, Purba Tua sub-district; Hutagurgur, Sibabangun sub-district; Paran Julu, Sipirok sub-district; Lumban Lobu and Pagaran Tulason, Arse sub-district ). Assessments were made through interviews, group discussion and direct observation on: i) bargot's importance in the local socio-economy (livelihoods, culture, markets) at different elevations; ii) traditional bargot management and the potential for further domestication; iii) bargot's current use and potential role in environmental conservation; and, iv) local people's perception and strategies for environmental conservation.

For some farmers in Batang Toru watershed area, mainly those who live in higher elevations (more than 800 mdpl), bargot or aren plays an important role as a source of livelihood. Based on the local legend, the Batak ethnic indicates that tapping Aren has close relation with poverty. The local legend story tells that the aren tree is the manifestation of a beautiful lady who has changed into aren trees with the purpose to welfare the poor people. There is also belief from local people that aren tappers (paragat) must use ragged costume, so that the lady will recognise the tappers as poor people and will give more nira (aren's sap). Though it is obvious, compared to other sources of livelihood, that activities related to aren product harvesting are associated with poverty, subsistence and low income, aren is important for poor people as a safety net, particularly during the economic crisis. Other marketable products of aren, besides sugar and tuak, such as ijuk and kolang-kaling, also contribute cash-income for the farmers who maintain aren trees in their gardens.

Farmers in Batang Toru watershed area variously manage aren trees in their gardens. The common practice and traditional management of aren trees in the area is an extraction activity, meaning that farmers only extract the products that already exist in nature without any attempt yet to renew the resources. Farmers still depend on spontaneous regeneration of aren trees; no aren trees are planted from seeds by the farmers. Farmers still believe that palm civets are the best aren planters. Also, farmers still think that aren seedlings are still plentiful, therefore there is no need to make a special attempt to domesticate the species. However, despite the farmers' belief, from our discussion with farmers and direct observation, aren is feasible to be planted and can be planted with any kind of trees. Farmers select and maintain aren trees that are considered as best trees i.e. seedlings with shiny, greasy green leaves. The number of aren trees maintained in farmers’ gardens also varied. Farmers in more hilly areas, who have higher dependency on aren trees for their livelihood, maintain at least 20 aren trees in their 0.5-1 ha mixed tree-based gardens (with at least 6-10 aren trees tapped per day). While other farmers in more flat land, who usually have rubber or cocoa gardens, will maintain at least 10 trees in their gardens with its main product for its ijuk and kolang-kaling.

From four sub-districts we surveyed, we found two farmers in Arse sub-district who have tried to domesticate aren trees by planting 100 bargot trees monoculture-ly in a one ha land. Those farmers believe that the good spacing for aren is 8m X 8m. For optimal production, distance between aren trees with other trees needs to be arranged. In Arse sub-district, we found an interesting case where intensive rubber agroforests (like RAS1) were mixed with aren trees. While in other sub-districts where we went, attempts to domesticate the aren trees were still lacking. However, all farmers that we met expected our research findings could help towards: (i) domestication aspects (technique to select good quality seeds and seedlings, shorten the harvesting time) and (ii) harvesting technology aspects (techniques to increase the nira production and techniques to unferment the nira).