**2. Traditional "***Dusung***" agroforestry patterns in the Maluku Islands**

The traditional land-use practices by communities in Maluku Province in terms of culture and customs are proven to answer ecological, economic, and socio-cultural problems, such as the land use pattern known as *dusung*. This process is used to plant short-term subsistence agricultural crops (vegetables, tubers, and spices), fruit crops (*Durio* sp., Lansium sp., *Myristica* sp., *Mangifera* sp., *Nephellium* sp., *etc.*), and forestry plants (*Pterocarpus* sp., *Paraserianthes* sp., *Anthosephalus, Alstonia* sp., *etc.*) in the long run. The condition of small islands in Maluku is geophysically undulating to hilly areas and dominated by dry land agroecosystems. The developed agricultural pattern is a "multi cropping" or "mixed" agroforestry system obtained by combining tree crops, such as plantation, industrial and forest plants in several strata. Food crops are also obtained as intercrops, usually carried out by the community at the end of the rainy season and into the dry season as a form of practice building *dusung.*

The combination of plants in *dusung* agroforestry is characterized by several forms of land use, which are also different in each agroecosystem because they have *dusung* types from the simplest composition to the more complex ones. The cropping pattern of annual crops is the main business, while forest plants are secondary. The main types of perennial crops are coconut (*Cocos nucifera*), cloves (*Eugenia aromatica*), nutmeg (*Myristica fragrans*), sago (*Metroxylon sago*) and fruit trees such as durian (*Durio zibetinus*), langsat (*Lancium* sp), duku (*Lancium domesticum*), advocate (*Anona muricata*), gandaria (*Buea macrophylla*), mangosteen (*Garcinia manggostana*), mango (*Mangifera* spp) and guava (*Eugenia jambolana*), *etc.* Furthermore, there are several types of forestry plants, such as samama wood (*Anthosepalus macrophylla*), pule (*Alstonia scholaris*), salawaku (*Paraserianthes falcataria*), forest guyawas (*Duabanga mollucana*), and community planted wood such as teak (*Tectona grandis*), titi (*Gmelina mollucana) and lenggua (Pterocarpus indicus).* Annual crops are dominated by cassava (Manihot utilisima), sweet potato (*Xanthosoma sagittifolium*), taro (*Calocasia esculenta*), bananas (*Musa* spp), peanuts (*Arachis hypogea*), corn (*Zea mays*), *etc*.Vegetable plants cultivated are genemo (*Gnetum gnemon*), spinach (*Amarantus* sp), long beans (*Vigna sinensis*), mustard greens (*Brasisca* sp), eggplant (*Solannum tuberesum*), cucumber (*Cucurbita* sp), tomato (*Solannum lycopersicum), etc.*

*Agroforestry - Small Landholder's Tool for Climate Change Resiliency and Mitigation*

ports biodiversity when facing climate change as a central issue.

Indonesia are sensitive to climate change variations [2].

current traditional agroforestry [3].

certain flora and fauna.

Environmental damage occurs due to biophysical or ecological related global climate change, such as resource depletion, deforestation, and agricultural and forestry land degradation in rural landscapes. Ecosystem diversity is similar to the landscape, which consists of various patches and corridors (such as rice fields, moor, crops, grazing fields, lakes/reservoirs/poolponds, plantations, mixed gardens, residential areas, rivers, irrigation channels, village roads, footpaths, *etc*. Therefore, the diversity of agricultural landscapes (agrobiodiversity), forestry (Agro-forestry), fisheries (Agro-Fishery), and livestock (Agro-Silvopasture) sup-

Agroforestry has two main functions, namely (1) Socio-economic function, which reflects human efforts in trying to meet their needs in the social and economic fields. It is generally, in the form of forest products, food plants, animal husbandry, *etc*. (2) Environmental function, in the form of components, is inseparable from agroforestry and acts as a system that includes hydrological, ecological, and conservation functions. This is usually the form of services, quantified using existing parameters, such as using agroforestry functions to prevent soil erosion through land cover and canopy strata, storing groundwater reserves, and using carbon binding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and conserving or protecting

The current impact of climate change that threatens all bio-ecology and natural resources has encouraged people worldwide to carry out processes of mitigation and adaptation to deal with the occurrence of various natural disasters. This is because of the degradation of natural resources, pollution, and loss of biodiversity which disturbs and increases the vulnerability of health systems to damages, thereby reducing resilience. All forms of agricultural systems on large and small islands in

The sustainability of ecosystems, especially in small islands, is determined by the land's biodiversity. In Asian society, including Indonesia, traditional farming practices known as agroforestry have been passed down from generation to generation. They have been proven to be able to develop and fill the context of sustainable agricultural development. Applying a forest management system based on the principle of sustainability increases the overall land yield. This is achieved by combining the production of agricultural crops (including tree crops), forest plants, and animals on the same land unit. Furthermore, various methods and management efforts are culturally applied as appropriate local populations for the

Agroforestry models have become a prioritized choice in cropping systems because they have several advantages compared to forestry and agricultural systems (monoculture). This advantage can be seen from the multiple products produced throughout the management of both wood and non-timber, including environmental services. The development of an agroforestry system is dependent on the structure of the constituent components. A decrease is experienced in the annual crop products when the agroforestry system component dominates the number of trees. Therefore, silvicultural action in agroforestry is the key to success. In addition, the agronomic regime chosen also has a positive correlation to tree development. The spatial dynamics in an agroforestry system are determined by how these constituent components use existing resources. It is important to ensure a balance between the interests of trees and seasonal plants using the resource sharing system. Agroforestry dynamics directly affect seasonal crop cultivation, with some able to provide support for seasonal crop cultivation throughout the year. However, it needs to be noted that other agroforestry models have limitations, therefore, the presence of seasonal crops can only be carried out at certain times, such as during

**2**

the rainy season.

The cultivation process adapted by the local community, led to a change in secondary forest which was covered by a very dense plant canopy comprising of various bird species, and various types of insects as indicators of a forest ecosystem few years later. The *dusung* farming pattern is shown in **Figure 1.**

The *dusung* farming pattern is still well-practiced, and till date, where the traditional agroforestry with the archipelago's geographical conditions can maintain the ecological and ecosystem functions. Furthermore, biophysical conservation efforts used to cultivate various plants are maintained and function as a buffer zone for water management and soil conservation. The *dusung* farming pattern also provides social sustainability where there is the customary practice of "*sasi,*" which prohibits harvesting before time and economic sustainability. The yields of various types of plants can be sold to the sub-district or district market. In addition, the *dusung* management is carried out together, starting from land preparation to harvesting called "*masohi.*" Generally, there are several *masohi* systems, namely: (1) *Masohi Bilang*: in this masohi the first person individually invites another to help in carrying out the job at the initial stage, (2) *Masohi Balas*: the second person replies to the first to help carry out a job. In other words, there is an exchange of the same work assistance in the implementation of the construction of the *dusung* on the two lands belonging to that person, (3) *Masohi Kumpul*: several people work together by taking time to carry out a job. More than 10 people sequentially carried out this activity.

This activity ended after all the landowners that participated in the "masohi gathering" had finished the work of producing *dusung.* Therefore, in this case, there was no known work wage, rather there was the exchange of labor assistance in the work of the hamlet [5]. *Dusung* is a traditional conservation system where the regulatory pattern is applied in the village due to the management and utilization of natural resources and the environment. Furthermore, the vegetation that forms in this pattern forms layered canopy strata from various types of plants that have economic value and productivity (multi-cropping). A social value guarantees and improves the need for foodstuffs and the quality of life for rural communities, especially those below the poverty line. For instance, the availability of local energy (firewood) and the ecological value of the diversified forest and agricultural products. Furthermore, there are conservation values associated with improving environmental quality with the provision of products and services in a sustainable manner. In order to measure the extent of the role and function of the *dusung* agroforestry pattern in the Maluku islands, a study needs to be carried out on the following: (1) the pattern's diversity on the island of Ambon, (2) its analysis according to small island agroecological conditions, (3) determining the sustainability index, from the ecological, conservation, landscape, economic and policy implementation aspects and (4) determining the cluster pattern according to the yield sustainability index value in the Maluku islands. Therefore, by examining the profile of the

**5**

**Table 1.**

*Designation of Traditional Agroforestry Clusters for Handling Climate Change Based…*

agroecological zone as a buffer for the ecosystem in the archipelago from the coast to the mountains, the traditional agroforestry formed in the Maluku Islands needs to be maintained and preserved from generation to generation and sustainably.

The concept of *dusung* is a modification of an ever-changing ecosystem due to the formation of new agricultural activities with greater benefits. In terms of ecology and economy, *dusung* (traditional agroforestry) is more complex than a monoculture system because it is local in nature and need to be in accordance with the ecological and socio-economic conditions of the area. *Dusung* is used as a land system with specific productivity objectives capable of improving rural communities' welfare over a prolonged period. It is the "Science and Art" of planting trees and other plants on available land both inside and outside the forest to produce various objects and services for individuals and the general public. It is also a method used to manage forests and their environment on community land to achieve a better socio-economic condition for the rural population and overcome environmental problems, erosion, and soil fertility deterioration. *Dusung* is a traditional pattern of natural resource use (forest), which shows local wisdom of sustainable management of natural resources and their ecosystems. The traditional conservation process in its regulatory pattern runs and applies in rural communities (*Negeri*) with proper management and utilization. In *dusung* farming pattern, the vegetation that forms a layered canopy strata pattern has a productivity value throughout the year (multi-cropping). The *dusung* pattern is a traditional land use system in the

form of local wisdom similar to agroforestry [6], as shown in **Table 1.**

3 Mixed perennial crops dominated by coconut, nutmeg, and cloves

4 Mixed perennial crops dominated by coconut and cacao

8 Cajuput, *Imperata cylindrica*,

Dusung *farming pattern in Maluku.*

*Andropogon ambonensis*, and Bali cattle

The *dusung* farming pattern is a modification of a new ecosystem with greater agricultural benefits, such as (1) ecologically maintaining the quality of natural resources and the whole agroecosystem, which includes animals, plants, and microorganisms. The plants have various root depths, crown heights, and canopy spacing. It also comprises of different requirements for temperature, light intensity, soil,

**No Farming pattern Region Agroforestry** 

1 Fruit crops and root crops Maluku Tengah, Maluku Utara Agrisilviculture 2 Planting spices and tuber crops Maluku Tengah, Maluku Utara Agrisilviculture

5 Mixed crop dominated by fruit trees Maluku Tengah Agrisilviculture 6 Walnuts and nutmeg Banda island Agrisilviculture 7 Coconut, tubers, and bananas Maluku Tengah Agrisilviculture

9 Sago Maluku Utara, Maluku tengah Silviculture

10 East Nusa Tenggara tangerines Island of Teon, Nila, Serua,

**concept**

Agrisilviculture

Maluku Tengah, Maluku Utara Agrisilviculture

Maluku Utara Agrisilviculture

Buru Utara Silvopasture

Leti, Moa, Lakor, Kisar&Wetar

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96016*

**3. Models and concepts of** *Dusung* **farming**

**Figure 1.** Dusung *pattern agroforestry use.*

agroecological zone as a buffer for the ecosystem in the archipelago from the coast to the mountains, the traditional agroforestry formed in the Maluku Islands needs to be maintained and preserved from generation to generation and sustainably.
