Expert wants environment atop development agenda<\/p>\n
By Joko Sarwono<\/p>\n
BOGOR, West Java (JP): "Get rich dirty, clean up later" was a
\ndevelopment paradigm once employed by the United States, some
\nEuropean countries and Japan.<\/p>\n
Although no longer applicable for those nations, Indonesia
\nunfortunately still uses it, an environmental expert says.<\/p>\n
Rokhmin Dahuri of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture said
\ndeclining capacity of the global environment to cushion
\ndevelopment impacts, and increasingly complicated environmental
\nproblems were two reasons the paradigm should be discarded.<\/p>\n
"Once the environment is damaged, we can't be sure it can be
\nrestored to its previous state," said Rokhmin, 40, who obtained
\nhis doctorate in coastal zone ecology and management from
\nDalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1991.<\/p>\n
He is one of only five Indonesians with a doctorate in the
\nfield.<\/p>\n
Rokhmin said economic growth received greater attention than
\nenvironmental preservation in many regions in the country,
\nultimately leading to unsustainable development programs.<\/p>\n
Several coastal regions have suffered because of this skewed
\napproach, he said, listing pollution, overfishing through
\nenvironmentally damaging methods and coral reef damage in those
\nareas.<\/p>\n
Rokhmin citing a shrimp farm development project, covering an
\narea up to 700,000 hectares, on the northern coast of Java. It
\nfared well from 1982 to 1992, but finally collapsed because of
\ndegradation in water quality from industrial waste. The shrimp
\nindustry formerly earned the nation about Rp 10 trillion
\nannually.<\/p>\n
Rokhmin is now director of the Center for Coastal and Marine
\nResource Studies at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture. He is
\nalso head of the master's program for the Management of Coastal
\nand Marine Resources, and teaches at several other universities.
\nIn 1995, he became one of Indonesia's Model Lecturers.<\/p>\n
He spoke with The Jakarta Post recently about how development
\nactivities have wreaked environmental damage in coastal areas.<\/p>\n
Question: What causes the most damage to our coasts?<\/p>\n
Answer: The development model prepared in a divided, sectoral
\nway. The planners, both the government and the private sector,
\nstill view renewable biological resources and the environment as
\nless valuable than mining or the manufacturing industries, which
\nyield short-term financial rewards.<\/p>\n
Other causes include population density. Some 60 percent of
\nthe Indonesian population (202 million) lives in coastal areas.
\nPoverty forces them to cut down mangroves, mine the rocks, fish
\nwith explosives... all because there's no alternative sources of
\nincome, and just to subsist.<\/p>\n
Q: But we cannot avoid industrialization. How best to go about
\nit?<\/p>\n
A: So far industrialization has been centered on the northern
\ncoast of Java, which is understandable because the sloping of the
\nland allows easy construction of infrastructure.<\/p>\n
But the coast has calm waves which slow down degradation of
\nwaste. This is the problem. If industrialization is to be
\nmaintained in Java, it must be directed to the southern coast ...
\n(it must) definitely be accompanied by various regulations.<\/p>\n
The southern coasts of Java have high-energy waves. The waste
\ndumped there can be directly aerated (mixed by the waves so that
\ndegradation occurs quicker). Granted, the land is mountainous, so
\nit would be difficult to build infrastructure there. This makes
\ninvestment costly. But if we care about sustainable development,
\nthis option is more profitable.<\/p>\n
Q: Is it ideal to have industrialization centered in Java?<\/p>\n
A: No. (Industrialization) outside of Java would be the ideal
\nchoice. As we know, 70 percent of funds currently circulate in
\nthe greater Jakarta area. It is (proof) of an unbalanced
\ndevelopment pattern. Development should be spread to areas
\noutside of Java, while the southern coasts of Java should be
\ndeveloped for marine tourism.<\/p>\n
Q: Which coasts have been damaged?<\/p>\n
A: Generally speaking, coastal damage occurs at locations with
\nhigh-level industrialization and high-density population. The
\ncoasts of Jakarta and Surabaya are heavily damaged. The coasts of
\nMedan (North Sumatra), Cirebon (West Java), Semarang (Central
\nJava) and Ujungpandang (South Sulawesi) fall in the middle
\ncategory.<\/p>\n
There are indications of pollution, too, in the Malacca
\nStrait, Banten Bay (West Java), Bontang (East Kalimantan) and
\nother new industrial areas.<\/p>\n
Q: What about Jakarta's coasts?<\/p>\n
A: In 1993 and 1994 I conducted a survey at Tanjung Priok port.
\nEven then its water was very murky. The port authority was
\npessimistic that the water could be cleaned.<\/p>\n
But ports can be restored. I visited the Boston harbor in
\n1986, and it was very dirty then. There was no fishing, let alone
\ntourist activities. However, its conditions have improved since
\n1990. Fishery and tourism are on the increase. Property values
\nhave also increased.<\/p>\n
Q: How do you go about restoring damaged coasts?<\/p>\n
A: In 1987, the community, the government, academic circles and
\nresearch institutes together started cleaning the harbor. It was
\nsimilar to our Clean River project, but things were handled more
\nseriously and with greater commitment of funds and human
\nresources for that. Thus, if there is a will, a damaged coast can
\nbe restored through technical, social and institutional programs.<\/p>\n
Q: How would you do it in Indonesia?<\/p>\n
A: First, reduce and, if necessary, stop waste. We must have
\nwaste treatment (plants) with an environmentally friendly
\nprocessing technology -- that is, with fewer raw materials and
\nproducing less waste. At the same time, there should be
\nrestoration of the environment, for example by creating rapids in
\nrivers in order to produce aeration.<\/p>\n
Second, dredge the coasts, dig out waste sediment and dispose
\nit in an ecologically safe place.<\/p>\n
There should also be public education on the environment,
\naccompanied by efforts to improve income.<\/p>\n
Q: If environmental education fails and the development course
\nremains as it is, how much loss will Indonesia face in the
\nfuture?<\/p>\n
A: In 1995-1996, I assisted a study conducted by a team from the
\nAsian Development Bank and the office of State Minister of the
\nEnvironment. The findings: if the process of coastal and marine
\ndamage continues, then we will suffer an annual loss of US$56
\nbillion by 2020.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, if we are willing to invest $2.6 billion
\n(for environmental education purposes and other matters) the
\nenvironment will be saved.<\/p>\n
Some people are already concerned about the environment. The
\nIndonesian Environmental Forum, Walhi, and other non-governmental
\norganizations are working to preserve the environment. But this
\ngrowing concern has been hampered by the economic and political
\nclimate. When a Walhi activist or an environmental expert
\nexpresses an opinion which goes against the mainstream of
\ndevelopment, their opinion is ignored.<\/p>\n
It is now time to be more open to constructive input and the
\ncalls for improvement.<\/p>",
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