Examining the implications of land use change on forests and well-being in Indonesia

Socio-environmental change driven by natural resource development carries significant implications for long-term sustainability and human well-being. The interdependences between social and ecological processes underscore the complexity of addressing these challenges. In an era characterised by rapid land use change, stakeholders are faced with difficult decisions to balance multiple, and often conflicting, social, economic, and environmental objectives. Robust evidence is therefore needed to identify where synergies and divergences occur to support decision-making towards better social and environmental outcomes for all.

In this thesis I adopt multiple methods to investigate the interdependences between natural resource development, forest conservation, and well-being in Indonesia. This involves examining the trade-offs and synergies across multiple outcomes resulting from land use change, and evaluating what implications this has in achieving sustainability targets. Utilising the social well-being framework accounts for both objective and subjective aspects of what it means to live a 'good life' within the context of understanding human-environment interactions.

I focus on two land use contexts that are facing pressures from natural resource development within forest landscapes in Indonesia. First, in Sulawesi I investigated the sustainability of nickel mining by quantifying its environmental and social impacts across the island (Chapters 2 and 3). Overall, results indicate that nickel mining production has negative implications on both forest conservation and local well-being. Across the dimensions of well-being, nickel mining exacerbated environmental degradation (i.e. pollution and natural disasters), while there were slight improvements in living standards and infrastructure.

The second context examines the importance of mangrove fisheries in sustainable food systems through the experiences of local small-scale fishers (Chapter 4). Using participatory visuals methods, I demonstrate how the foodscape constructed by mangrove fishers are challenging dominant subsistence narratives that exist in food systems and sustainability. Themes highlighted the importance of the social and cultural dimensions of food systems, as well as the distinct gendered experiences expressed.

Overall, the findings underscore the inevitability of trade-offs across sustainability targets, while emphasising the need for greater harmonisation and integration across economic, social, and environmental objectives. Drawing knowledge from multiple methods contributes towards an improved understanding of human-environment interactions. This thesis contributes robust and interdisciplinary evidence to inform rural development policy and natural resource management efforts, not only in Indonesia but also in forest tropics globally.