Culture, Ecology and Livelihood in the Tinombo Region of Central Sulawesi.
1991. Halifax: School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University. 112 pp.
Abstract
The study addresses the issue of livelihood security in the context of agrarian transformation in the uplands of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. It has the practical goal of describing the ways in which livelihoods are obtained, and identifying ecological, economic and political/legal constraints to the attempts of uplanders to make their livelihoods more adequate and secure. The study analyses optional and changing systems of agricultural production, and considers the implications of new forms of production such as tree based cash farming which radically alter the relationship between population and environment by redefining the social relations of access to land and labour. Based on detailed local field research, the study examines issues of relevance to many other upland areas in Indonesia and the region. Part One describes historical and contemporary patterns of livelihood in three distinct agro-ecological zones: the coastal zone, the middle hills and the inner hills. In each case, current trends are examined from the perspective of their potential to enhance or reduce livelihood security. Part Two explores cultural, political and economic aspects of the interaction between the three zones in the broader context of the state and the wider economy. These include official perceptions of the uplanders, the operation of local government, proposed development programs, and trade linkages within the hills and with the regional and world economy. Part Three presents some recommendations for consideration by national and local government. The Appendix analyses household survey and case study data from each of the zones, demonstrating the diversity of livelihood strategies pursued in the area.