Benzoin gardens in the forest edge of North Sumatera

AssessmentBenzoinresin (‘Kemenyan’ in BahasaIndonesia) which mainly produced from Sumatra benzoin(Styraxsumatrana) are very important for people who live in and near forests in BatangToru. It provides cash income for many farmers in the region. The harvesting of the product requires relatively small or no capital which is why many poor people engage in these activities. It also involves low impact on environment. Benzoinresin was mainly exported to Middle East countries as preservative ingredient and as incense for cosmetics, perfumes, cigarettes purposes. The benzointrees have been culturally important and being used to indicate the ownership of the land. Historically, many benzoinin North Sumatera regions were planted in early Indonesian Independence period (around 1945) to secure forest lands. Nowadays they are mostly abandoned since the price of the resin continue to decline. Some of the gardens revert back to forest and some others converted into rubber or coffee cultivation. Nevertheless, benzoinresin are still important products in North Sumatra and nearly 65% poor farmers in the regions relying on this commodity.