Critic sets the record straight<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Bogor<\/p>\n
If you are among those skeptical of official data provided by
\nforestry-related government departments, then you should go to
\nTogu Manurung for a clearer picture of the situation.<\/p>\n
Over the years, Manurung has made a name for himself by
\nsetting the record straight.<\/p>\n
Manurung is a senior lecturer at the Forestry Faculty of the
\nprestigious Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) and director of
\nnon-governmental organization (NGO) Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI).<\/p>\n
His scathing criticism of the government's forestry policy has
\noften stung policymakers.<\/p>\n
He and the Indonesian People's Forum (IPF) have accused the
\nOffice of the State Minister for the Environment of lying in its
\nreport at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD)
\nlast August.<\/p>\n
He said the state ministry had lied to the world when it
\nreported that the forest area lost in the 1997-1998 fires was
\n"between 200,000 hectares and 5 million hectares."<\/p>\n
Local NGOs put the figure at between 7 million hectares and 10
\nmillion hectares.<\/p>\n
"How come the government gave such inaccurate data to the
\nworld? It was all a big lie," he said.<\/p>\n
The state ministry soon clarified its version, but it
\nsatisfied neither the public nor the critics who questioned why
\nthe government concealed information in the first place.<\/p>\n
Manurung had earlier been at odds with the government when it
\nput the deforestation rate at 1.6 million hectares a year when
\nindependent estimates, including his own, were put at 2.4 million
\nhectares.<\/p>\n
Then the government revised its figure to 2.1 million hectares
\nper year after conducting reinterpretation of satellite imaging.<\/p>\n
Manurung has always strongly insisted that the Indonesian
\ngovernment should not underestimate the problem of rampant forest
\ndestruction.<\/p>\n
"Imagine what can happen if the government's data is below the
\nactual figure. Chances are that the government will miscalculate
\nthe impact and take the wrong remedial action. That already
\nhappens in the country's forest management," he said. He
\nmentioned various incidence of floods and landslides.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, releasing the wrong information has become a
\ngovernment habit following the fall of the New Order regime in
\n1998.<\/p>\n
Knowing that forestry data in the country is very poor,
\nManurung agreed to be elected as the first director of FWI in
\n2000. FWI is an organization focusing on collecting data on
\nforestry. It was established in 2000 by a number of NGOs
\nconcerned by rapid deforestation in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"I share the same vision with FWI so I agreed to lead the
\norganization. We have published several books containing useful
\ninformation on forestry, including data based on forestry
\noperations in the country, maps and conditions of the country's
\nforests," he said.<\/p>\n
FWI has a strong network with the Global Forest Watch and with
\nlocal NGOs on the major islands, such as Sumatra, Kalimantan,
\nSulawesi and Papua.<\/p>\n
FWI will hold a national congress in August, and high on the
\nagenda is the election of a new chairman.<\/p>\n
Poor data is only one of the host of problems in the country's
\nforest management, while destruction of forests continues
\nunabated.<\/p>\n
"Traveling in a number of forests in the country always makes
\nme very sad. The destruction is everywhere, before our eyes but
\nwe can't do anything," he said.<\/p>\n
Like other activists, Manurung wants to see the government
\ntake legal action against perpetrators of forest destruction,
\nranging from illegal loggers to companies that fail to replant.<\/p>\n
"Then, the government must regreen many areas in this
\ncountry," said Manurung, who obtained his doctorate degree from
\nWisconsin University in the United States in 1995. He got his
\ndiploma degree in 1985 and masters in 1988 -- both from IPB.<\/p>\n
He sees his hope partly fulfilled. Recently the government
\nlaunched a program to reforest 3 million hectares in 17 water
\ncatchment areas over the next five years at a cost of Rp 15
\ntrillion (US$1.7 billion).<\/p>\n
But what about law enforcement for destroyers of the country's
\nforests? "Apparently, we cannot expect to much of it," Manurung
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
If deforestation continued at the current rate, Manurung said
\nhe feared that in 10 to 15 years few of Indonesia's forests and
\ntheir rich biodiversity therein would be left.<\/p>\n
"Before all this destruction, Indonesia was much admired for
\nits natural beauty and wide variety of flora and fauna. I hope
\npeople will understand why the destruction should be stopped."<\/p>\n
Manurung recalled that it was Indonesia's untold natural
\nbeauty that inspired him to study forestry at ITB.<\/p>\n
He believes that by providing accurate data on forestry, the
\ngovernment will be able to work together with the public to save
\nwhat remains of the forests.<\/p>\n
"If people have accurate data but they don't care, then the
\nignorance would bring only suffering to everyone of us."<\/p>",
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