The Study Area Introduction

3 | P a g e

C. The Study Area

1. Location 6. The project is located in the north part of the province of South Sumatra, adjacent to the province of Jambi to the north. Administratively this province is divided into eleven regencies, of which the Project has identified target areas in 3 regencies, these being Musi Rawas, Musi Banyuasin and Banyuasin regencies. Figure 1 Project Location Sumatera Selatan Administrative Divisions 2. Target Groups Areas 7. The target groups of the project are regional and local decision-makers, communities and user groups, and are discussed below. GIZ will work with key partners and stakeholders in each district, including regional and local government agencies, local communities, concessionaires, as well as a number of potential NGOs and research partners. 8. The target areas also includes a number of protected areas including: Merang Peat Swamp Forest area MPSF which is a promising location for such a pilot project due to the still relatively intact forest cover and the large below ground carbon storage in the peat, as well as the suitable location Musi Rawas District Musi Banyuasin District Banyuasin District 4 | P a g e with connections to the protected areas of Sembilang National Park in Banyuasin and Kerinci Seblat National Park in Musi Rawas Regency. 9. GIZ will specifically focus on developing an approach for the protection and sustainable management of forests of high conservation value that is acceptable to local people, the private sector and policy makers. Improved forest management including restoration of natural degraded forest will only be achieved if tangible economic incentives are provided in conjunction with meaningful environmental and social safeguards, including upholding the rights of local communities. 10. GIZ recognize that unless the local communities benefit then REDD+ is unlikely to work. By exploring the links the project will aim to help the many poor forest dwelling communities in project area. 11. It is proposed to establish several ‘forest management units’ FMUs in the districts, covering the full range of designated state forest types: production forest; protection forest; and protected areas. This study will assist in determining both the target areas and beneficiaries for the project. 5 | P a g e

II. Research Methods