THE rows of sago trees on the banks of Saibi River, Siberut Island, Mentawai, West Sumatra, are flourishing.

So is the farm and the forest behind the home of Melki Sanenek, 60, a community leader in Saibi Samukop village. Agricultural produce has supported the economy of the local population for decades. But the predictable rhythms of planting and harvesting was recently shaken by the news that an industrial forest concession (HTI) had been given