Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) forests in Java, Indonesia: plantations, management and policy

Abstract

This  paper gives an overview of the environmental conditions, silviculture,  distribution and area of teak forests in Indonesia. As Java is a densely  populated island, the population pressure is also very high. Therefore  specific forest management systems are applied. The tumpangsari (taungya)  system as well as daily wage system are considered as having valuable social  and economic aspects for people of the area surrounding the teak forests.  This way they ultimately decrease further teak forests deterioration.     Indirect government policies (such as family planning and transmigration)  and policies aimed directly at the teak forests, such as application of the  tumpangsari and daily wage systems, could maintain teak forests and teak  production in Indonesia on a sustainable basis.