Sustainable Livelihoods in Peatland of Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia: Analysis of Resource Utilization Options in Buntoi Village, Basarang Jaya Village, Sabangau Permai Village, ond Karang Sari Village

Sumber daya gambut di Kalimantan Tengah telah lama dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat lokal untuk berbagai kegiatan seperti pertanian, pengumpulan, berburu, dan ekstraksi kayu. Kesuksesan pemanfaatan lahan gambut ini mendorong Pemerintah Indonesia untuk mengembangkan wilayah ini melalui program transmigrasi, memberikan pemukiman baru bagi penduduk pulau Jawa, Madura, dan Bali yang awalnya tidak pernah bercocok tanam di lahan gambut. Masalah  kesesuaian lahan dan tidak adanya pengalaman  mengakibatkan kejutan, stres, dan penurunan sumber penghidupan  di antara penduduk transmigrasi, terutama terkait kegagalan pertanian, terutama tanaman padi sebagai produk pertanian utama. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji keberlanjutan mata pencaharian, menentukan aspirasi dan persepsi konservasi stakeholder, dan menunjukkan skenario opsi penggunaan lahan lainnya. Empat desa dipilih sebagai sampel, termasuk desa lokal (Buntoi), dua desa pendatang di gambut (Basarang Jaya dan Sabangau Permai), dan satu desa pendatang di luar gambut (Karang Sari). Data diperoleh melalui wawancara dan diskusi kelompok dengan petani, pengusaha, dan pejabat pemerintah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pertanian di lahan gambut dapat dikembangkan melalui tiga tahap evolusi, yakni periode awal, transisi dan pemulihan, serta stabilitas atau kegagalan. Periode stabilitas dapat dicapai dalam waktu lama, seperti yang dialami oleh petani Basarang Jaya. Penelitian ini memberikan wawasan tentang keberlanjutan mata pencaharian dan aspirasi penggunaan lahan di Kalimantan Tengah. Kata kunci: Keberlanjutan, Lahan Gambut, Mata Pencaharian, PemanfaatanPeatland resources in Central Kalimantan have long been utilized by the local communities for various activities such as agriculture, gathering, hunting, and timber extraction. The successful exploitation of peatland prompted the Indonesian Government to develop the region through a transmigration program, providing new settlements for people from Java, Madura, and Bali islands who were initially have no experience cultivating peatland. Land suitability issues have resulted in surprises, stress, and a decline in livelihoods among transmigrant populations, particularly concerning the failures in agriculture, especially in cultivating rice, the primary staple food for Indonesians. This research aims to examine the sustainability of livelihoods, determine the conservation aspirations and perceptions of stakeholders, and present alternative land use scenarios. Four villages were selected as samples, including a local village (Buntoi), two migrant villages in peatlands (Basarang Jaya and Sabangau Permai), and one migrant village outside the peatland area (Karang Sari). Data were obtained through interviews and group discussions involving farmers, entrepreneurs, and government officials. The research findings indicate that agriculture on peatlands can be developed through three stages of evolution: the early period, transition and recovery period, and stability or failure period. The stability period may take a long time, up to 20 years, as experienced by farmers in Basarang Jaya. This study provides insights into the sustainability of livelihoods and land use aspirations in Central Kalimantan. Keywords:  Livelihood, peatlands, sustainable, utiliztio