The evolving role of tropical forests for local livelihoods in Indonesia

The authors studied how the role and perceptions of natural forests have changed in seven villages along the Malinau River, East Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). Local people consider development projects, logging and mining activities, and floods as having the greatest influence on their livelihoods and use of forests. Access to and availability of valued forest products is perceived to have decreased and thus, while still of considerable importance, the overall role of forests has declined. New sources of income,