Haharu is one of the sub-districts of East Sumba District in eastern Indonesia. It experiences extreme weather and poor natural conditions with more than 80% of community members there are farmers. The soil type in Haharu is vertisol with black soil characteristics and high clay content: in the long dry season it shrinks and cracks; in the short wet season it is slippery and clogged. With shallow soil depths owing to rocks and limestone the average depth of arable land is only 20–30 cm. Additionally it is difficult for many plants to grow in soils with high clay content. A few decades ago various types of native trees grew in Haharu such as sandalwood (Santalum album) lobung (Decaspermium sp.) injuwatu (Pleiogynium timorense) and kosambi (Schleichera oleosa) but were over-harvested resulting in the wide arid plains that are commonplace today. A major impact of the absence of trees is a landscape with a micro-climate that does not encourage rainfall. The communities experience water and food shortages every year.
Publication year
2017
Keywords
ecology, climate change, rain, ecosystems, soil fertility
