Kalimantan buffer-zone: Palms oil or eco-tourism?<\/p>\n
Siswo Pramono, The Hague<\/p>\n
Indonesia should develop an economic buffer-zone in the
\nnorthern parts of Kalimantan in order to improve security in the
\nareas along its border with Malaysia. Economic activities will
\nbring a modicum of administrative presence, which in turn will
\nimprove the sense of security in border areas.<\/p>\n
The increasing global demand for logs and cheap labor, the
\nrampant poverty in Indonesia, and the economic disparity between
\nIndonesia's Kalimantan and Malaysia's Sabah and Serawak, have
\nbecome the driving force of illicit cross-border activities. Such
\nactivities include illegal logging, the smuggling of logs and the
\ntrafficking of illegal migrants.<\/p>\n
If an extensive and profitable alternative is offered, the
\nillicit business will be less attractive. The (preliminary) idea
\nto develop a curtain of 1.8 million hectares of oil palm
\nplantations extending along the border, for some, is considered
\n\"the\" alternative.<\/p>\n
Two million hectares of oil palm plantation could provide
\nUS$87.5 billion of foreign exchange earnings, 200,000 on-site
\njobs, six million jobs in oil palm-related industries, and, most
\nimportantly, boost the development of small- and medium-scale
\nenterprises and cooperatives. For Indonesia, palm oil is also a
\ngood material for clean energy.<\/p>\n
But the oil palm curtain concept has already created debate.
\nAttempts to promote the social welfare of the people should not
\nbe prejudicial to the interest of preserving the Kalimantan
\nforest.<\/p>\n
After all, Indonesia was a participant to the \"Heart of
\nBorneo\" workshop held in Brunai Darussalam this year, which
\nsought to establish 225,000 square kilometers of conservation
\narea along Indonesia and Malaysia's shared border. The areas
\nsuggested for oil palm plantations will overlap these proposed
\n\"Heart of Borneo\" regions.<\/p>\n
Many are worried that the development of oil palm plantations
\nwould upset the biodiversity of the forest area. A study revealed
\nthat a primary forest can host 75 mammalian species, while oil
\npalm area hosts only 13 (New Straits Time, Feb. 13).<\/p>\n
While oil palm cultivation may debatably have only a minor
\nimpact on the environment, the forest-clearing process can
\ndestroy the water resources in the hinterland of Borneo, which
\nsupplies 14 major rivers. And these rivers are vital to the
\nlivelihood of the whole island.<\/p>\n
Environmental impacts aside, there are also some concerns
\nabout the economic feasibility of planting oil palm in central
\nBorneo. According to experts, oil palm plantations are unlikely
\nto be productive in areas higher than 200 meters above sea level.
\nHowever, most of the border area in northern Kalimantan is
\nlocated in highlands at altitudes of between 1000 and 2000
\nmeters.<\/p>\n
The question is not whether oil palm plantation, and hence
\nindustry, is good for our economy; but rather, how should we
\nmanage this industry in the most feasible and sustainable way.
\nWhat to plant is important; where to plant is equally important.
\nA comprehensive study is needed to settle this oil palm
\ncontroversy and it will take a long time to complete.<\/p>\n
We thus have to figure out another more practical, yet
\nsustainable way to fill in the economic buffer-zone. If
\npracticality matters, then we should contemplate the feasibility
\nof an eco-tourism industry.<\/p>\n
We already have the beautiful forests, mountains, lakes,
\nrivers, flora and fauna, and, at least, six national parks along
\nthe border. That they are \"already there\" offers the opportunity
\nand hence the challenge for us to manage them into an
\neconomically feasible and well-integrated eco-tourism industry.<\/p>\n
Sabah alone, for instance, with its main eco-tourist
\ndestinations of Mount Kinabalu, Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, and the
\nisland of Sipadan, managed to attract 1.6 million tourists last
\nyear, or about one third of the total people visiting Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Eco-tourists come for nature, for the forest. In eco-tourism,
\nthe need to make a profit and the need to conserve the forest are
\nmutually reinforcing. You conserve the forest, you conserve the
\nindustry. You destroy the forest, you destroy the industry.<\/p>\n
Since eco-tourism businesses would require a particular
\nstandard of infrastructure, a thorough environmental impact
\nanalysis is nevertheless needed. The constructions of roads,
\nairports, sea and river ports, clinics, and tourist resorts
\nshould not hurt the preservation of Borneo's forest.<\/p>\n
If eco-tourism is the alternative, then our task is to attract
\nforeign parties to invest in this sector. The international
\ncommunity could provide the badly needed financial support.<\/p>\n
For instance, in the Netherlands, a program called PSOM
\n(program for cooperation with emerging markets) provides grants
\nto projects in developing countries that are commercially
\nfeasible, supportive to the local economy, and environmentally
\nfriendly.(www.evd.nl\/psom).<\/p>\n
Under the PSOM arrangement, a joint venture of Dutch and
\nIndonesian companies who want to start eco-tourism businesses
\ncould apply for a grant of 500,000 euros. And for the year 2006,
\nthe allocated PSOM grant for projects in Indonesia is two million
\neuros.<\/p>\n
We need to learn how Frank Lloyd Wright, the great American
\narchitect, worked with nature. And in our effort to build an
\neconomic buffer-zone in northern Kalimantan, his wisdom applies:
\n\"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never
\nfail you\".<\/p>\n
This article reflects the personal views of the writer, who is
\na minister counselor at the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague.<\/p>",
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