Situated in Central Java province, administratively within 3 different districts (Pekalongan, Banjarnegara, and Wonosobo), Dieng Plateau is famous for its beautiful landscapes. Lakes, forest, waterfall and craters are most attractive tourism objects for not only people from the surrounding areas. Local and international tourists are also interested to visit many old Hindu temples found scattered in the area. However, the plateau inhabitants cannot enjoy the full economic benefits of Dieng tourism.

When potato was first introduced in the area, the locals started to convert their forest and mixed garden (agroforestry) to plant potato and other vegetables such as tomatoes and cabbages. Land clearance without considering conservation techniques is common practice leading to landslide, soil degradation, and sedimentation.
Considering the critical condition of the plateau, the Wonosobo District government established Tim Kerja Penyelamatan Dieng (TKPD), a special team for Dieng Plateau conservation.

On 14 of November 2009, a team from the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF-SEA) was in Dieng Plateau for a field observation and discussion with TKPD members to find possible solutions for Dieng conservation.

A number of TKPD representatives were in ICRAF Bogor last October to join the Rapid Carbon Stock Appraisal (RaCSA) and Rapid Hydrological Appraisal (RHA) training organized by TULSEA and RUPES. They expressed their interest to apply environmental service reward scheme to conserve their plateau.

“TKPD invited us to observe the landscape and to see the link between the present land use change and land degradation in the area,” explained Diah Wulandari, TULSEA Project Officer who visited the area accompanying Dr Meine van Noordwijk, ICRAF Science Advisor.

TKDP has identified that the land use change in Dieng Plateau has increased soil erosion and sedimentation. One of the remaining lake, ‘Danau Warna’ become dry especially in dry season and shallow due to sedimentation. Flooding and landslide occurred in rainy season damaging roads and houses. Soil erosion has affected to soil productivity. When potato was firstly introduced, farmers can yield up to 30 tons of potatoes from only 1 ton of potato seedlings. Now, the production is only 8 tons in average.

With only planting potatoes as the best economical option, the TKPD’s effort to introduce planting local trees such as sengon, coffee and suren, was not attractive. The locals believe potato is the best commodity even though the production continues decreasing.

In Buntu, one of the villages in the plateau, ICRAF team found a local conservation program being carried out under the support of Indonesia Power, a subsidiary of PT PLN – the state power company.

“This village is potential to be the model village of conservation for other villages in the up-stream. For environmental service rewarding scheme, TKPD has identified Indonesia Power as the potential buyer” said Diah.

“We will need to conduct some preliminary appraisals before applying any environmental service reward schemes in the area,” said Dr Meine van Noordwijk.

“This would include PaLA or Participatory Landscape Appraisal, water monitoring, RHA, and RMA (Rapid Market Appraisal), all to ensure the underlying problems in the area and to determine best rewarding schemes that won’t exclude the local people.”