The subsistence economy is still prevalent in many parts of Siberut. It is believed that the traditional modes of production underwent few changes during the pre-colonial and colonial period. Otherwise considered still holding out traditional pattern, Mentawai community can not avoid from societal changes.

The most significant changes occurred during the post-colonial period and were primarily related to the modification in settlement pattern, involving the forced resettlements from forest dwellings to villages (50-70’s). Introduced monetization and needs related to the new context of village life (school, administration, etc.), initiated a more market orientated economy, forcing the Mentawaians to redefine their traditional modes of production and adopt less sustainable resource use patterns.

Since the 1960’s, however, the ecosystems and indigenous culture have been experienced by outside pressure. The introduction of monetary system and new needs (school, administration, medical treatment, etc) repeatedly compel community to involve in market economic. It changes the relationship Mentawai community with its natural resources and use. In the last time, traditional natural resources management can produce sustainable use.

Traditional resource management and related subsistent environmental management strategies, defining the modes of production, have in the past always secured a sustainable use of the environment. However, this pattern was only fully effective within the traditional subsistent livelihood system. The environmental management strategies and related modes of production of the traditional subsistent economy were unable to entirely integrate a market economy without modifications, which was determined by outside market demands and influences.

However, shifting from a subsistent resource management to a more cash-oriented resource management structure was needed to adapt to the fast changing socio-economic environment, evoked by outside influences and control mechanisms. While the traditional resource management pattern was based on millennia experience and recurring improvement by each generation, new imported resource management techniques were implemented without prior knowledge, leading to unsustainable practices and negative environmental practices. The specific production of resources for market demand is a relatively new process, and in connection new elements like marketing, and the fluctuation of market demands and prices, which prior did not have to be considered, are from the point of continuity difficult to accept and understand.

Increased outside influences continue to have an effect on the erosion of existing traditional ecological knowledge and practices. It is assumed that this process induces a lower understanding of the environment and changes people’s environmental perception and behaviour from subsistent-oriented to cash-oriented. Today, the younger generation has already adopted an exploitative attitude and is often supportive of logging activities. This is primarily due to the increasing material needs of young people, the limited opportunities in the past to participate on equal terms in the market economy, and the fast and easy benefits promised by forest expolitation.

Traditional resources management is carried out based on experiences for some years and developed by generation to generation. The situation is rapid change by introducing natural resources management from outside (commercial forest cutting and forest opening for big-scale plantation) implemented without thinking about context, time, place, and social implication. The increasing of outside pressure are in line with decreased traditional knowledge.

Uncontrolled natural resources use and low quality of human resources bring Siberut to two threats: poverty and natural resources degradation. The same situation has ever been experienced by Sikakap and Sipora Island, two big islands forming Mentawai archipelago chains. Both of these islands have been losing biodiversity while its community are in poverty line. Without right intervention, Siberut will soon follow the same route as Sikakap and Sipora.  To avoid both threats above are needed management strategy of potency and societal changes risk in Siberut Island. The intervention especially is focussed at saving uniqueness ecosystem and high biodiversity of Siberut Island. Besides that, efforts to improve environmentally friendly based economic is needed to give chance to integrate with market that is beneficial for local community and economic sufficiency. Considering uniqueness Mentawai culture, intervention efforts must be suitable with egalitarian cultural context of Mentawai, based on local potency owned by them.