http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/MG14Ae01.html
Jul 14, 2011
Jakarta rethinks forest policy
By Amantha Perera
LOMBOK - Indonesia has assumed a target to cut greenhouse gas emission rates by
half and achieve an economic growth rate of 7% by changing the way it manages
its vast forest land, and giving greater control over land to local
communities.
The policy change towards community control of land is a major shift for a
government that is still the largest owner of land. Of the 190 million hectares
of land in the country, the Indonesian government controls 133 million
hectares, or 70%.
"We may at this juncture start hearing the term Community Managed Forest which
is a more comprehensive concept," Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, from Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's special delivery unit, told a high-level
international conference on forestry held in Lombok, 1,060 kilometers south of
Jakarta.
At the conference the Indonesian government announced the new allocation of
89,000 hectares for community-managed forest areas. "Some say that we need more
land allocated for this purpose, I see that as a step in the right direction,"
Mangkusubroto said.
Experts say that the government control of land is a colonial legacy, when the
center began to exert control over indigenous populations. "This is our chance
to untangle our convoluted past and make a lasting difference," Mangkusubroto
said.
"The state remains the predominant actor in the region's forests, but the trend
toward local control now emerging is incredibly important," said Andy White,
coordinator for Rights and Resources Initiative, a US-based land tenure
advocacy body.
The prevalent trend in Indonesia, the world's fifth-largest forested area, has
been government control of land which has been on the increase. By 2008, the
0.60 million hectares that were reserved for communities six years back had
been reduced by 70%, to 0.23 million hectares.
The increasing government control has stood in the way of communities from
gaining full benefit of the forested area - and, more dangerously, failed to
curb the loss of forest cover.
Indonesia was one of the 11 countries with tropical or sub-tropical forest
cover that recorded a loss between 2000 and 2010, according to data released at
the conference.
The statistics also revealed that degradation of forest area was also high,
with land being allocated to private companies for short-term exploitation.
"The presence of a large amount of degraded land - estimated at 30 million
hectares or more - is a sign that the forest frontier is undervalued, meaning
that economically it makes more sense to continue to plunder the frontier
rather than develop existing open land," said Dominic Elson, an independent
consultant.
On the contrary, Elson said that 40 million Indonesians who are living in
treeless areas officially designated as publicly owned forests don't have land
rights to even such degraded land.
"This limits their livelihood options, as the land cannot be used for
agriculture, yet in most cases they also cannot get a permit for reforestation,
and do not have political power to get a permit for estate crops such as oil
palm or cocoa," he said.
Officials say the lofty goals to cut emissions while achieving high economic
growth can be met. Plantation and forestry related sectors only account for
0.1% of Indonesia's gross domestic product, while contributing a large
proportion of emissions
"The issue of land rights and reform will also affect food and energy security.
This is not only a forestry issue, but is a cross-sector one," said
Mangkusubroto, adding that the plan was to face challenges brought on by
climate change in a transparent and holistic manner.
"The commitments to 26% emissions reduction and seven% growth should not be
juxtaposed in contradiction with one another; it is not about choice between
one or the other," he said. "We are dedicated to more sustainable economic
development and management of our natural resources."
Experts feel that a loosening of the government's control over land would help
contribute to sustainable management of the country's forests. Similar trends
are appearing in countries like China, India and Vietnam.
Elson said that until Indonesia addresses the land control issue, "it will be
hard to make more than token progress on the pressing issues facing the land
use sector, such as deforestation, conflict and misguided investments that
undermine development.
"This will not only have poor outcomes for the forests, biodiversity and
climate change; it will also have profound implications for the economy and
long-term social development."
Norway has come forward to support Indonesia's efforts to cut emissions by
providing US$1 billion to protect the forest cover.
Following Norway'soffer, Indonesia has suspended issuing new land-use permits.
An important step towards managing forests, Mangkusubroto said, was to have one
map accepted and made operational by all agencies. Local communities will have
a chance to give their input towards creating what he termed the "One Map".
"Stakeholders, including indigenous communities, will be encouraged to provide
input through a transparent and participative process," the official said.
Mangkusubroto said there were at least 4 million hectares with over-lapping
land-use certificates.
If the ambitious plan succeeds, it would achieved the delicate balancing act of
ensuring environmental conversation and community rights, while reducing
poverty and creating more jobs.
"I am pro-growth, I am not against development. At the utmost, land and forest
tenure reform is about increasing people's welfare and living standards,"
Mangkusubroto said.
(Inter Press Service)
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