|
The Forest-dependent
Peoples and toward Forest Resources Management in Indonesia
A Case Study in East
Kalimantan 1
Mrs. Ulfa Hidayati 2
(biography)
|
|
|
One
of the most complex and challenging issues facing the developing countries,
especially Indonesia, today is realistic balancing between sustainable economies
and sustainable natural resources. Driven by the need for capital, foreign
exchange, and employment opportunities to promote a "good" economic
development, the Indonesian Government has generated unprecedented demands for
large-scale exploitation of natural resources (particularly forest resources).
These, in turn, have been causing "great" degradation of the
environment (particularly deforestation), rapidly depletion of natural resources
and marginalization of forest-dependent peoples (Indigenous Peoples and local
communities). In view of the mentioned condition, this paper attempts to
describe changes in the environment and society through human forest interaction
in East Kalimantan where Dayak People (one of the Indonesia's remained
Indigenous/Tribal Peoples) still apply their system of forest resources
management. It is known well that forest-dependent peoples (Indigenous Peoples
and local communities) view the forest as their ancestral home, the foundation
of their knowledge, traditions and continuity. More and more evidence shows that
for generations forest-dependent peoples have sustainably managed forest
resources through community-based systems. Only by sharing the authority can
overburdened government truly help the people and state sustainably develop and
equitably share in the forest patrimony. By accepting their (forest-dependent
peoples') share of the responsibility and cooperating with reasonable state
regulations, forest-dependent people will be better able to promote the common
good, as well as their own.
Introduction
It is generally known that Indonesia is
outstanding in the term of biological diversity. Indonesia possesses 10% of rain
forest in the world and 40 to 50% of the Asia’s rain forest. These forests
contain approximately 4000 species of trees, 267 of which are considered
commercial timber species. Indonesia’s forests are also home to about 500
species of mammals, 100 of which are considered endemic species, and 1500
species of birds. Thus, these rich biological regions are protected by a network
of parks and reserves totaling 18.7 million hectares, which are complemented by
30.3 million hectares of protection forests whose primary function is to
conserve important watersheds and also to serve as reservoirs of biodiversity
(Sormin in Blockhus et al, 1992). These totally protected areas cover
about 34% of nation’s forest areas. Another 21% of the forested areas is
allocated for conversion to agriculture, settlement, and industrial purposes.
The remaining 45% of the forest area (65.14 million hectares) is designated
production forest.
| 1)
Presented at the 2nd IWMC World Conservation Trust Symposium on the Sustainable
Use of Wildlife Resources, November 22 - 26, 1999, Chengdu - China. In preparing
the paper, the author acknowledges the contribution from RMI’s people (Susy K.
Sebayang, Mia Siscawati, Latipah Hendarti, and Nani Saptariani), as well as
Hapsoro (PANTAU). |
| |
| 2)
Work at RMI-the Indonesian Institute for Forest and Environment. RMI is
independent, non- profit, non-governmental organization. Address: Jalan Sempur
No. 55, Bogor – 16154, Jawa Barat, Indonesia. Phone: +62 –251 311097,
320253. Fax: +62 –251 320253.E-mail: rmi@bogor.wasantara.net.id |
|
