The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve REDD Project

13. Muara Dua. Muara Dua is also under Seruyan HilirSubdistrict administration. It has 3 dusun (Muara Dua, Belanti,and Tempudan) located on either side of Seruyan River. Thepopulation is 523 people, comprising 287 men and 236 women in140 families. The number of people of working age is 419.Ethnically the villagers are Banjar (60%) and Dayak (40%), and allare Muslim. All of them earn their living by fishing and farming,with cash income approximating IDR 40,000/day. Of the 140families, 36 are considered poor as they earn less than IDR20,000/day. These poor families receive Cash Direct Aid from thegovernment.Muara Dua villagers still depend on local natural resources tomeet basic needs: fish for protein, water, wood for constructionmaterials and fuel. They purchase other basic needs, such ascarbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, non-­‐fish protein, andmedicines.Land is owned individually and communally. Individualownership is not registered with the village head, althoughlandowners know the boundaries of their properties.Reportedly, there have been no conflicts between villagers andoutside parties. No companies operate in the village. However,in 2008 word reached the village that the Seruyan Districtgovernment had plans for part of the village land to be allocatedfor oil palm plantation development. At present, the oil palmcompany with a license for the area, PT. Ahmad Saleh, has yet tocommence its operations on the ground. Similar to other villagesin Seruyan Hilir Subdistrict, Muara Dua has not developed anyinstitutions for managing the village forests, but each individualmay use this communal land.There are two farmer groups, Harapan Makmur (25 members)and Setia Karya (15 members). One is facilitated by WorldEducation and the other by the Forestry Service Office at theDistrict level.14. Tanjung Rengas. Tanjung Rengas is the southern-­‐mostvillage in the Seruyan Hilir Subdistrict, and includes one dusunwith six hamlets located on the west side of Seruyan River. It isinhabited by 1,406 people, consisting of 765 men and 641women in 320 families. The number of working age people is985. Ethnically the population is 50% Dayak and 50% Banjar.Seventy percent of the villagers earn their living from fishing,20% from farming and 10% from working for companies. Theaverage income from fishing or farming is IDR 30,000/day. Of the320 families, 70% reportedly live in poverty, which they define ashaving an income of less than IDR 25,000/day, owning no land, orliving in a house with a palm roof.Similar to other nearby communities, villagers here meet theirbasic needs for carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and medicinesthrough cash purchases and depend on local natural resourcesfor water, construction materials, and fuel wood. The villagersdo not have cultural ties to the forests.Land is owned individually, but most of the land has not beenregistered with the village. Only 5% of the families have obtaineda SKT signed by the village head. There is communal forest landavailable for use by the villagers. Officially, any individual whowants to use the land must report to the village head to apply fora SKT, but no sanctions are applied for failure to do so. Thevillage has delineated village land into the following use39