In Bungo (Sumatra) farmers look for global beneficiaries to purchase the mega biodiversity sustained by their jungle rubber

Abstract

Ensuring that progress is sustainable With guidance from RUPES Bung , many changes havebeen set in motion from the formation of farmer groups to increased awareness by local officials of the environmental consequences of monoculture plantations.However, to maintain these fledgling improvements and to respond to changes, the jungle rubber communities must have the internal capacity to monitor the factors that affect their world and to adapt to change.They needguidance and support for doing so. Local and national institutions such as universities are best situated for providing this support and acting as brokers to solidifyrelationships with internationa biodiversity buyers. RUPESBungo must educate to build: 1) internal capacity; and 2)local and national networks of institutional support.To progress on government development of rational,synergistic policy, RUPES needs to intensify efforts to convince and involve policy makers at village, district and provincial levels