Forest biodiversity under threat: Locals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Four forest inhabitants yesterday related their
\nexperiences in an effort to show just how serious is the threat
\nto biodiversity in their immediate surroundings.<\/p>\n
The four men were invited to address a gathering organized by
\nBioForum, a coalition of Indonesian non-governmental
\norganizations, on the sidelines of the ongoing international
\nbiodiversity conference.<\/p>\n
The four men from East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Lampung
\nand West Java described how the diverse plants in their
\nsurroundings have changed or are on the point of changing.<\/p>\n
Lukas Alpius, a villager of Jelmu Sibak in the Bentian Besar
\ndistrict of Kutai, East Kalimantan, said that a proposed 1,600-
\nhectare forestry estate will wipe out 52 varieties of paddy, 42
\nvarieties of rattan, more than 70 varieties of fruit and scores
\nof herbal plants.<\/p>\n
Adjacent to that area, the government is opening up a new
\nsettlement area on a 87.5-ha plot and a rubber plantation on
\nanother 80 ha, Lukas said.<\/p>\n
The people in Bentian have been asking the government to
\nrevoke the concession permits of the timber company, PT Hutan
\nMahligai, since 1993, he said. The government has not responded
\nto the requests, he added.<\/p>\n
Maniamas Miden, a tribal leader from the Aur Sampuk sub-
\ndistrict in Sengah Temila, West Kalimantan, said his people are
\nworried about rumors that forest concessionaires are about to
\ncome and take over their land.<\/p>\n
\"This is sacred land. We cannot convert the forest, though by
\ncustom we are allowed to take timber and hunt animals,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I am afraid the medicine men will find difficulties in
\nlooking for healing plants when the forestry estates come in,\"
\nMiden said.<\/p>\n
Sandra Moniaga, one of the organizers of the talks, said most
\nforestry estates being developed in Indonesia are modeled on
\nthose established in non-tropical countries which limit the
\nnumber of species of plants to one.<\/p>\n
The monocultural practice threatens the environment inside and
\noutside forests, she said.<\/p>\n
\"The government should remember that the forestry estates are
\nnot only changing the forests into only acacia or sengon
\n(albizzia falcata) trees,\" said Sandra, who works with an NGO in
\nWest Kalimantan. \"The land outside the forests also has a variety
\nof plants, which monoculture eventually affects.\"<\/p>\n
Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja told reporters
\nearlier that he regretted the negative impact of the
\nestablishment of forestry estates on forests' biodiversity.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's talks also covered the question of intellectual
\nproperty rights and community rights.<\/p>\n
Today's topics at the BioForum include women and the
\nenvironment and patent rights in the context of North-South
\nrelations.<\/p>\n
Another NGO, Konphalindo, is scheduled to host talks on the
\nSoutheast Asian perspective of the Convention on Biodiversity.<\/p>\n
Sarwono is among the scheduled speakers. (anr)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/forest-biodiversity-under-threat-locals-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }