Parak Salibutan as an Agroforestry Model Supporting the SDGs and a Green Economy

Lubuk Alung – The community of Salibutan Village in Lubuk Alung District, Padang Pariaman Regency, has a promising new economic opportunity amid growing global concern over climate change. This opportunity comes from Parak, a traditional mixed-garden or agroforestry system that has been passed down through generations in Minangkabau society.

For many years, Parak has supported local livelihoods by producing various commodities, including durian, areca nut, candlenut, asam kandis, cocoa, mangosteen, petai, jengkol, medicinal plants, and timber species. Beyond its economic value, however, Parak also provides important ecological benefits, particularly through its capacity to absorb and store carbon.

Unlike monoculture plantations, which are dominated by a single crop, Parak consists of various perennial crops, fruit trees, woody plants, spices, and natural vegetation. Its multilayered vegetation structure resembles that of a natural forest, allowing it to absorb and store relatively large amounts of carbon.

The existence of Parak demonstrates how traditional agricultural practices can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 on Climate Action and SDG 15 on Life on Land. The system helps maintain tree cover, store carbon, protect biodiversity, and reduce pressure on surrounding forests.

Parak as a Carbon Storage System

Several studies have shown that complex agroforestry systems have a significant capacity to store carbon. A study by Siaruding et al. in 2021, as referenced in the Parak development assessment, found that carbon stocks in mixed gardens may be comparable to those of secondary forests, ranging from approximately 62.34 tonnes of carbon per hectare to more than 108.9 megagrams per hectare.

Meanwhile, an initial assessment of Parak areas in Salibutan Village recorded an estimated carbon stock of approximately 56.72 tonnes per hectare. This carbon is stored in various vegetation components, including mature trees, poles, saplings, dead trees, and forest litter.

The agroforestry system in Salibutan is classified as complex agroforestry because it contains approximately 28 plant species from 17 families. These include fruit trees, timber species, spice crops, and naturally occurring vegetation. This diversity gives Parak stronger ecological functions than monoculture agricultural land.

Durian, areca nut, candlenut, petai, jengkol, asam kandis, and various local tree species not only produce commodities that can be sold by the community but also serve as sustainable carbon sinks.

These characteristics make Parak an environmentally friendly agricultural model that supports SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production. Communities can continue generating agricultural products without clearing new land or removing the existing tree cover.

The presence of food crops and fruit trees within Parak also contributes to SDG 2 on Zero Hunger by protecting sustainable and climate-resilient local food production systems.

Opportunities for Carbon Trading

The carbon stored within Parak represents an important initial asset for developing a community-based carbon trading project. Under such a scheme, the ability of an area to absorb or reduce greenhouse gas emissions can be measured, reported, and verified before being converted into carbon credits with economic value.

However, not all carbon stored in trees can automatically be traded. A carbon project must meet various requirements, including clearly defined boundaries, secure ownership or management rights, baseline carbon data, long-term carbon storage, prevention of emissions leakage, and evidence that the project creates additional carbon absorption or emissions reductions.

Salibutan Village therefore requires a transparent Measurement, Reporting, and Verification, or MRV, system. MRV is necessary to ensure that carbon stocks and changes in the amount of carbon stored in Parak vegetation can be accurately calculated and recognised according to applicable carbon market standards.

The baseline data can be strengthened through participatory mapping using geographic information systems, an inventory of plant species and tree populations, measurements of tree diameter and height, and calculations of carbon stocks across different parts of the landscape.

The resulting data can then be used to determine the verified area of Parak, its emissions absorption potential, the feasibility of a carbon project, and the estimated number of carbon credits that could be generated.

If all requirements are met, the development of carbon trading in Salibutan could contribute to Indonesia’s national emissions reduction targets and the country’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 agenda, particularly by increasing carbon absorption in the forestry and land-use sectors.

Combining Conservation and Community Economic Development

The potential for carbon trading in Salibutan is strengthened by the fact that the Parak area is part of the same landscape as the 2,792.52-hectare Village Forest. The area is also connected to Nyarai Ecotourism, one of the recognised nature-based tourism destinations in Padang Pariaman Regency.

The village development planning document also records the potential of approximately 10 hectares of asam kandis plantations containing around 1,200 hardwood trees. Asam kandis provides multiple benefits because the trees can absorb carbon over the long term while producing fruit that can be processed and sold without cutting down the trees.

In the future, a carbon scheme could be integrated with the development of non-timber forest products, such as trigona honey, asam kandis, medicinal plants, forest fruits, and other agroforestry products. This integration would allow the community to benefit from several ecosystem services simultaneously.

This approach is known as the multiple ecosystem services model, in which an area generates economic benefits through non-timber forest products, agriculture, ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, and carbon storage.

Carbon trading is therefore not intended to replace the community’s existing sources of income. Instead, carbon-related revenue can provide an additional source of income and create incentives for local people to retain trees and maintain the sustainability of Parak.

This development supports SDG 1 on No Poverty and SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth. Revenue from carbon credits, agroforestry products, and ecotourism could strengthen household economies while creating green business opportunities at the village level.

Salibutan Village could also develop a tree-adoption programme for visitors to Nyarai Ecotourism. Through this programme, tourists could participate in tree planting or maintenance activities, while the community would receive economic benefits from tourism and conservation services.

Products such as asam kandis, trigona honey, spices, and forest fruits could also be marketed under environmentally friendly labels. Such branding could increase the value of local products while strengthening Salibutan’s identity as a village developing a green economy based on local knowledge.

Local Institutions as the Foundation of Carbon Governance

The opportunity for Parak to enter the carbon market is determined not only by the condition of its vegetation but also by the strength of local institutions. Salibutan Village already has a Village Forest Management Institution, locally known as LPHN, Social Forestry Business Groups or KUPS, farmer groups, a tourism awareness group, the village government, and customary institutions.

The involvement of Niniak Mamak and other customary leaders is particularly important because land and natural resource management in Minangkabau society is closely associated with customary rules and communal ownership. Community consent, management rights, and benefit-sharing arrangements must therefore be clearly and openly established from the beginning.

These institutions can provide the foundation for establishing a village-based carbon business unit. Such a unit could manage landscape data collection, carbon monitoring, cooperation with verification bodies, revenue management, and the distribution of benefits to community members.

Carbon trading is not merely about selling the ability of trees to absorb emissions. It requires professional governance, long-term monitoring, protection of community rights, and a fair and transparent benefit-sharing mechanism.

Without clear regulations, carbon trading could potentially create conflicts relating to land boundaries, carbon ownership, beneficiaries, and the use of revenue. Agreements among customary institutions, the village government, LPHN, KUPS, farmer groups, and Parak owners or managers must therefore be developed through a participatory process.

Strengthening institutions and cross-sector collaboration is closely linked to SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals. The success of a carbon project requires cooperation among communities, government institutions, universities, businesses, verification organisations, and social forestry facilitators.

Community Engagement to Strengthen Parak

Community engagement programmes provide an important initial step in preparing Salibutan Village for community-based carbon management. These activities aim to improve community understanding of the ecological functions of Parak, carbon measurement methods, carbon project governance, and opportunities for developing green enterprises.

Continuous assistance is also required to ensure that local people do not become merely the objects of carbon trading. The community must be involved from the beginning, including in landscape mapping, data collection, management planning, monitoring, and the development of benefit-sharing arrangements.

Universities can contribute by providing scientific assessments, preparing baseline data, calculating carbon stocks, developing MRV systems, and strengthening the capacity of local institutions. Local governments can provide regulatory support and facilitation, while businesses may contribute through the purchase of carbon credits or the development of environmentally friendly products.

Through such collaboration, the development of Parak contributes directly to several Sustainable Development Goals. It supports SDG 1 on No Poverty by diversifying and increasing community income, as well as SDG 2 on Zero Hunger by protecting sustainable local food production systems. It also contributes to SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth through the creation of green enterprises, ecotourism activities, and the management of non-timber forest products. The responsible use of natural resources without damaging tree cover is aligned with SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production, while the ability of Parak to absorb and store carbon directly supports SDG 13 on Climate Action. The protection of forests, agroforestry systems, and biodiversity contributes to SDG 15 on Life on Land. From a governance perspective, stronger local institutions and transparent benefit-sharing arrangements support SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. These efforts are further reinforced through partnerships among communities, governments, universities, and businesses, as emphasised in SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.

Social Impact

The development of Parak as a community-based carbon management model can strengthen social cohesion and encourage wider public participation in natural resource governance. By involving customary leaders, village institutions, farmer groups, women, young people, and local business groups, the programme can create a more inclusive decision-making process. It also helps preserve Minangkabau ecological knowledge by transferring traditional Parak management practices to younger generations. Community participation in mapping, carbon monitoring, product development, and benefit-sharing can increase local capacity, strengthen collective responsibility, and reduce the risk of conflict over land use and resource ownership.

Economic Impact

From an economic perspective, Parak can generate additional income without replacing the community’s existing livelihoods. Revenue may come from carbon credits, ecotourism, tree-adoption programmes, and the sale of non-timber forest products such as asam kandis, trigona honey, medicinal plants, spices, and forest fruits. The development of environmentally friendly branding and value-added processing could also improve the competitiveness of local products. These opportunities may create new green jobs, strengthen small community enterprises, diversify household income, and reduce economic dependence on activities that could lead to forest degradation.

Environmental Impact

Environmentally, maintaining and strengthening the Parak system can increase carbon storage, protect tree cover, and support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Its multilayered vegetation also provides habitats for various plant and animal species, improves soil fertility, reduces erosion, protects water catchment areas, and increases landscape resilience to climate-related hazards. By encouraging communities to preserve trees rather than convert the land into monoculture plantations or other intensive uses, Parak contributes to biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, and the long-term ecological stability of Salibutan Village and the surrounding forest landscape.

Parak is ultimately more than a traditional garden or an ancestral legacy of the Minangkabau people. It represents a practical example of how local knowledge can respond to the challenges of climate change while creating new economic opportunities for rural communities.

With appropriate assistance, accountable carbon data, strong local institutions, and fair benefit-sharing arrangements, Salibutan Village has the potential to become one of the pioneers of community- and local-wisdom-based carbon trading in West Sumatra.

Through Parak, the people of Salibutan can demonstrate that environmental conservation, food security, cultural preservation, and community prosperity are not competing objectives. Instead, they can grow together within a single sustainable landscape.

This activity is funded by the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) on behalf of the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology and managed under the EQUITY Program (1117/UN16.R/KPT/IX/2026.).