Smallholders are often seen as a weak point in the development of oil palm plantation production. The quality and yield of their production are considered low according to world market standards; the continuity of their production is irregular; and finally, improving the welfare of farmers is difficult to achieve. However, smallholder plantations have an important and strategic role in achieving sustainable development. This study aims to assess the social life cycle assessment of smallholder oil palm plantations in Bengkulu Province by involving stakeholders consisting of workers, local communities, farm owners, and value chain actors. A total of 600 respondents were selected using quota sampling and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using social-life cycle assessment, involving various social issues and relevant social indicators for each stakeholder. The findings in our research show that smallholder oil palm plantations still do not meet the minimum wage for workers, and the equipment used by workers is still very minimal in terms of security and safety guarantees. The price of palm oil continues to fluctuate, and plantation policies are constantly changing, making it difficult for oil palm owners to meet the standards and various rules that are set for managing oil palm plantations. In addition, oil palm plantations are no longer a guarantee for the fulfillment of food security conditions for household owners, workers, communities, and actors involved in the oil palm institutional chain. Our finding is that, surprisingly, there is a low level of commitment by smallholders and the government to sustainability in oil palm plantations. The Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil and Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil as standards for sustainable oil palm plantations, as well as global standards for oil palm plantations to demonstrate environmentally friendly production processes, have not been able to compel smallholders to implement sustainable development in oil palm. Various policies formulated by the Indonesian government are perceived to have not addressed the core issues faced by small-scale farmers. Policies supporting small-scale farmers, particularly those related to increasing productivity, fostering and monitoring the environmental management of palm oil plantation activities, and ensuring ownership of plantation, are necessary for the achievement of sustainable smallholder palm oil plantation development.

Small-scale fisheries are facing significant challenges from climate change. Fishers feel the impact of climate change, which forces them to adapt. We, therefore, analyzed local climatic changes, fishers’ perceptions regarding climate change and its impacts, adaptation responses, and determinants. Three decades of meteorological data were analyzed (1985–2020). A total of 300 fishermen were selected using quota sampling and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the descriptive and binary logit regression models to explain the determinants of adaptation responses. The findings indicate that fishers’ perceptions of climatic changes align with historical climatic data. Typologies of adaptation responses used in the study showed that time fishing adjustment was the most widely used adaptation option by fishermen. For this reason, fishermen are very active in looking for information about climate change to help them find the right time to go to sea and reduce the risk of climate change. Analysis using the binary logit regression model showed that fishing income, boat power, and climate change perceptions were the significant ( ) factors significantly influencing adaptation responses. Therefore, to strengthen the adaptation responses in small-scale fisheries, fishers’ perceptions should be considered.

The high sedimentation rate of Rawapening Lake is both an environmental challenge and a potential resource. Seedlings currently rely on single-use plastic polybags, which contribute significantly to plastic waste. The use of mineral soil as a growing medium can accelerate natural resource depletion. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of utilizing lake sediment as an alternative seedling media through soil block technology. An integrated Life Cycle Assessment was conducted to quantify the environmental impacts, and Multidimensional Scaling was applied to assess sustainability across environmental, technological, economic, social, and institutional dimensions. Field data from ten seedling producers using soil blocks and ten using polybags were analyzed. The results showed that soil block media reduced Global Warming Potential by 48% compared to polybags, increased phosphorus and organic matter content, and was more financially efficient, with an increase in productivity of 90.24% and a revenue cost ratio of 24.56%. Sustainability analysis classified the innovation as moderately sustainable, with the highest scores in the environmental and technological dimensions. Institutional support was identified as a limiting factor. These findings suggest that sediment-based soil block media are a viable, lower-impact alternative for seedling production, although scaling up will require policy and institutional support.