Agroforestry System as the Best Vegetation Management to Face Forest Degradation in Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia, as a country with a tropical climate, has a forest area of 94.1 million ha, and in 2019 deforestation reached 3,500,637.7 ha due to large-scale illegal logging for various activities. In addition, the area of primary forest has decreased over the last 15 years and is positively correlated with land degradation, carbon sequestration, and crop production. The low carbon sequestration capacity triggers global warming which has an impact on increasing the average temperature in Indonesia. Therefore, the restoration of forest functions to support ecosystem stability is the first step in forest management planning. The integration of trees and plants, namely agroforestry, is an option in the management of vegetation that is beneficial to the ecosystem. Tree-based farming systems have the capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere above ground, such as trunks, branches, and leaves, and below ground, namely the root system. Agroforestry has three main functions, namely regulating rainwater (soil and water conservation), sequestering carbon (reducing the impact of global warming), and supporting the microclimate (crop production). These three functions are supported by vegetation. Agroforestry systems provide options to reduce the effects of global warming, increase crop yields, and support ecosystem stability. Thus, a well-managed and sustainable agroforestry system is the best vegetation management that can solve the problem of deforestation.