Environmental Policies - Deforestation in Indonesia - Research Paper Example

? An Assessment on the Deforestation in Indonesia Introduction On December 2004, the world was shocked by a great undersea quake into the coastal areas of Sumatra, Indonesia. The killer quake spread its massive waves into the coastal communities across south and east Asia (BBC News, 2011). This disaster resulted to the death of about 130, 000 Indonesians and more than 37, 000 missing and presumed to be dead and destroyed properties and structures close to US4.5 billion (Leitmann, 2007). On May 2006, another earthquake stunned the country in Java Island located south of Bantul district in the urban province of Yogyakarta. The 52-second tremor left 5, 700 lives and damaged an estimated amount or US3.1 billion (Leitmann, 2007). These are just some of the examples from the growing list of disasters in Indonesia. At first glance, these disasters can be considered to be brought about by natural calamities, natural catastrophes that could be beyond anybody’s control. Taking a closer look however on Indonesia’s environmental policies, many issues can be clarified and a lot of questions can be answered. This paper delves on the environmental condition including the policies of Indonesia with specific focus on deforestation. Country profile Republic of Indonesia is an archipelagic country in the South East Asian region with the land area of 1.9 million sq km (BBC News, 2011). Indonesia’s terrain is mainly coastal lowlands and its larger islands have interior mountains (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). Indonesia is highly diverse ethnicity with more than 300 local languages (BBC News, 2011). As of this year, Indonesia has a recorded population of more than 245 million. According to the data of Central Intelligence Agency, it has an urban population of 44 percent as of year 2010 and the rate of urbanization goes at 1.5 percent rate of change for the year 2010-2011. Indonesia is endowed with rich natural resources such as petroleum, gold, silver, coal, natural gas, nickel, and copper among others. Most of its land area is also arable and fertile soil. On the other hand, Indonesia is also home for the most volcanoes in the world, some 76 are historically active (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). In spite of being a highly agricultural country, only 16. 5 percent (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011) of Indonesia’s labor force is in the agricultural sector. The industrial sector dominates the labor force with 46.4 percent (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011) followed by services with 37.1 percent (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). This set-up of the labor force can be traced back during the 1970s when Indonesia started the development of its wood-processing industries maximizing its forests that comprise 84 percent of its total land area. From then on, Indonesia’s production capacity of pulp and paper industries has increased immensely by almost 700 percent, thus, it is now one of the world’s largest pulp and paper producer. Forest-related industry in Indonesia was further expanded in the decades of 1980s and 1990s by the government. However, these expansions went underway without any sustainable forest management system thus resulted to the acceleration of forest loss in the country. Status of deforestation Deforestation from a layman’s point of view is simply an act of cutting down trees in forest and rain forests. Usually, these are through logging or burning of trees. However, the act of systematically cutting down trees to pave the way for industrial plantations that support the pulp and paper industries or clearing forests to convert them into crop plantation such as palm oil or opening up to mining industries, the simple act elevates to exploitation and deforestation becomes seriously destructive. Conversion to plantations The rate of forest loss is growing fast. In 1980, about 1 million hectare per year was cleared. This accelerated in the first half of the1990s with an average of 1.7 million hectares and by 1996 onwards, the average has grown as high as 2 million hectares (Four Corners, 2002). In the thrust to further advance Indonesia’s export revenues at least 16 million hectares of natural forest have been approved for conversion to industrial timber plantations of agricultural plantations. This act was also done to in favor of companies close to the government. Specifically, 9 million hectares of these lands were identified for development of industrial timber plantations. These lands have already been cleared, and yet, only about two million hectares were actually used for Acacia mangium plantation that produces pulpwood (Indonesia's Forests in Brief). Of the 7 million hectares of forest appropriated for crop plantations, only about four million were actually used for palm plantations (Four Corners, 2002). The sad thing about this is that of the more than 20 million hectares of forests cleared since 1985, vast majority of the land has yet to be utilized in productive alternative uses. Needless to say, the massive destruction of forests has had an overwhelming impact on the environment. Numerous ecologists have actively pointed out their concerns that the lowland tropical forests, which happens to be the most enormous in timber resources and biodiversity in Indonesia, are the most at risk (Indonesia's Forests in Brief). It is feared that if the current trend continues, these tropical forests in Sumatra and Kalimantan regions are to disappear entirely in the near future (Four Corners, 2002). Together with this forests, wide and diverse range of animal and plant species are also feared to vanish. Forest fire and illegal logging Aggravating the situation is the forest fire and illegal logging. In 1994, more than 5 million hectares of forest were burned and in 1997-1998 another 4.6 million hectares. Illegal logging is estimated to have destroyed about 10 million hectares of forest (Four Corners, 2002). In spite of the serious problems brought about by the illegal logging, it was somewhat tolerated and encouraged by Indonesian government (Osgood, 1994). Under the leadership of the then president, Suharto, who ruled for thirty-two years, forest resources were divided between relatives, political allies and business partners, subsequently providing them authority over them. They were provided with logging concessions which covers almost half of the country’s total forest area. The massive expansion in the plywood, pulp and paper production sectors in Indonesia over the last two decades have increased the demand from the capacity of its industry to supply, thus, the gap in the aspect of supply and demand. This gap is being filled by illegal logging. This resulted to the emergence of timber tycoons and even of organized crime syndicates (Four Corners, 2002). Worse, they are being protected and assisted by military and police. The irony is that many wood processing industries publicly admit their dependence on illegal loggers’ supply. In 2000, about 65 percent of Indonesia’s total supply was estimated to come from illegal logging (Indonesia's Forests in Brief). Over-capacity of forestry industry and the wood supply gap have driven the rapid loss of Indonesia’s forest to both legal and illegal logging operations Furthermore, large-scale plantation owners have turned to the use of fire as cheap and easy means of to clear forests. Burning forests to clear land for agricultural use has been a very profitable for Indonesia. However, the deliberate fire-setting especially in times of dry condition such as during the El Nino phenomenon, have led to the unprecedented extent and intensity to uncontrolled wildfires. Thus, its effects are harmful, not only to Indonesia but also to nearby countries. Smoke from large forest fires in Indonesia has reached countries like Singapore and the Philippines and other countries in the Southeast Asia (Padden, 2009). Today, almost half of Indonesia’s forests have virtually turned into industrial zones with fragmented roads, other access routes and plantations. Impacts of forest loss The environmental consequences of the large-scale forest-loss in Indonesia include the loss of unique bio-diversity, increased in flooding and drought, decline of water in terms of quantity and quality and the increased forest fires that pollute thye air with toxic fumes, ash and greenhouse gasses. As a matter of fact, from the most forested country of the world, Indonesia has now become the third largest emitter of greenhouse gasses globally. Roughly, 85 percent of Indonesia’s emissions are results of massive deforestation, forest degradation and forest fires (Vanhanen, 2000). In terms of greenhouse gasses in relation to the draining of peat lands responsible for over five percent of annual global emission from human activities, Indonesia is on top of the list (Leitmann, 2007). More importantly, the forest loss affects the Indonesian people. Forest-dependent communities are also being destroyed in the process of deforestation. Profitable illegal sectors everywhere have developed into gang networks that extort and protect the illegal trade. They wage violence against those who would interfere or would likely threaten their power. These unlawful acts and sectors and the violence is tolerated if not condoned by the state security forces (Human Rights Watch, 2003). However, aside for the illicit sector, the unchecked boom in demand for wood by the expanding Indonesian forest industry also threatens the livelihoods and safety of the local communities. Seizure of land resources for new concessions and violently depriving the forest-dependent communities of their right to land through repressive laws have left them no choice but to protest. Protests have already erupted against logging and plantation operations that plunder the natural resources. The Indonesian people have also taken a stand on the ancient problem of land rights and land reform that definitely needs the government’s intervention and concrete action. Government policies and intervention The Indonesian government has maximized the major political change in their country followed by the overthrowing of President Suharto in 1998. On top of all this, it is very important to acknowledge that the Indonesian government, post-Suharto have already realized the problem and is gearing towards forest policy reform. However, several factors have affected the full implementation of such reform program. The World Bank chaired a consortium dubbed as the Consultative Group of Indonesia that coordinates Indonesia’s principal aid donors and supporters. On top of its list in terms of priority is the improved forest management. The Indonesian government geared towards a concrete 12-point plan in terms of policy reforms. It line with this, in May 2000, the Indonesian government enforced the suspension on further conversion of natural forests. In August 2001, it moved to stop illegal logging and sought international support in this drive (Four Corners, 2002) Indonesian government has also made significant actions to lessen the scale of damage in its forests. It was one of the first countries to sign the international Convention on Biological Diversity. It was prompt into preparing a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. However, the Indonesian government is still facing an enormous task ahead. The political instability in the country has hampered the continuity of such reform program. Also, efforts, widespread corruption left over by the Suharto regime is very much entrenched in the system of Indonesia (Four Corners, 2002). Also, the government’s inability to take an active and favorable position for the majority of the population has resulted to too many conflicts in the rural areas of Indonesia. These issues include the perennial problem of land tenure rights. It is not enough that the Indonesian government no longer protects the interest of big corporations, but it should also have to deal with the problem’s solutions. Conclusion Historically, deforestation in Indonesia is a by-product of a corrupt political and economic system. A profit-oriented government would likely regard the natural resources only as sources of raking superfluous income and would use all its institutions to exploit and amass everything that the environment could offer. When the policies of the government towards the forest sector are to favor forest-based industrialization, although it might seem helpful in terms of creating jobs, the economic and social cost, however, is much heavier brunt to shoulder (Osgood, 1994). Driven by greed, deforestation results not only into violence and environmental destruction, but disintegration of the people and communities. No better alternative can be derived after the forests have gone and replaced by unsustainable industry. A genuine reform program that sincerely aims in supporting growth beneficial for the Indonesian people and environment must be enforced. Good governance and the rule of law must be promoted. Consolidation of political power must come from the peoples’ support and belief and not from political patronage and consensus at the expense of the natural resources. In reconstructing Indonesia’s forests and reviving its natural resources, the Indonesian government must first and foremost rely on its people. It must revive the peoples’ trust and support. Thus, the interests and welfare of the Indonesian people must be given due priority. At the heart of all these, the Indonesian government plays the vital role . The environmental, political and economic reforms will be useless if it is not centered in the core foundation of a nation building – unity Bibliography BBC News. (2011, February 08). Indonesia Country Profile. Retrieved July 09, 2011, from BBC Mobile News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/1260544.stm Central Intelligence Agency. (2011, July 05). The World Factbook. 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