Radical measures needed to stop illegal logging<\/p>\n
E.G. Togu Manurung, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Forest degradation and the depletion of Indonesia's forest
\nresource is a continuing crisis. The rate of deforestation
\ncontinues despite all the meetings and discussions that have been
\nconducted so far. The commitments conveyed to the Consultative
\nGroup on Indonesia (CGI) and the Memorandum of Understandings
\nbetween Indonesia and other countries related to the forestry
\nsector are still mostly words on paper with little domestic and
\nregional action taking place, while the illegal trade of wood
\nproducts is increasing.<\/p>\n
Destructive logging is not a new problem; since the beginning
\nof legal logging operations through the system of forest-
\nconcessions in the late 1960s until now there has never been
\nsustainable forest management in Indonesia. The result is that
\nbad forestry management and logging operations are responsible
\nfor creating heavy forest degradation, forest resource depletion
\nand creating massive and life-threatening environmental problems
\nacross the archipelago.<\/p>\n
In the early 1980s, the rate of deforestation in Indonesia
\nwas estimated to be one million hectares a year, in the early
\n1990s this increased to 1.6 million hectares. In 1996 it rose to
\ntwo million hectares and from 2000 until the present the rate of
\ndeforestation has increased to an incredible three million
\nhectares a year, the highest rate of deforestation in the world.
\nThis is happening despite the many meetings and commitments
\nsigned made by the government of Indonesia to address the
\nproblems in the sector, including commitments made to the CGI.<\/p>\n
In February 2000 in this very building eight commitments were
\nsigned off by the government of Indonesia. To date the Indonesian
\ngovernment has not delivered on even one of those commitments.
\nThe responsibility of the donor community is part of this
\ntragedy. Despite the fact that the government has not delivered,
\ndonors continue to give new loans every year.<\/p>\n
We welcome the high-level political statements made by
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Nov. 11 last year, at
\nPangkalan Bun, central Kalimantan, declaring war on illegal
\nlogging. However, illegal logging continues, including in the
\nTanjung Putting National Park where the statement was made.
\nIllegal logging also continues in almost all other national parks
\nand other protected or conservation areas across the country.
\nTherefore, real action to combat illegal logging at grassroots
\nlevel is essential.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that nowadays some 80 percent of total
\ndomestic wood consumption to feed the domestic wood processing
\nindustry in Indonesia comes from illegal logging activities. The
\nwood processing industry continues have an overcapacity -- it is
\nable to produce far more than it is legally allowed to -- and the
\nhuge gap between the demand and supply of unprocessed wood
\nproducts is supplied with illegal logs from illegal logging
\noperations.<\/p>\n
In addition, log smuggling along the border between Indonesia
\nand Malaysia continues. Illegal loggers send timber from
\nKalimantan, Sumatra and Papua to neighboring countries who then
\nsupply international markets, including many of the donor
\ncountries. This logging traffic is increasing and is in fact out
\nof control.<\/p>\n
The definition of legality is a big problem in itself. Under
\ncurrent existing laws and regulations the rights of indigenous
\npeople are completely ignored and in fact not even part of the
\ndialogue.<\/p>\n
Their communal or adat rights are not recognized by the
\ngovernment. Indigenous and local people are the victims of both
\nthe timber industry controlling illegal logging and the law
\nenforcement agencies who are complicit in it. They are often
\naccused of being involved and arrested when those who are behind
\nthe syndicates operating within Indonesia and the region are able
\nto continue their illegal business with impunity. It is not a
\nsecret who these timber barons are and many in civil society have
\nat great risk to themselves repeatedly fingered the culprits for
\nthe problem.<\/p>\n
The issue of decentralization has had a devastating effect in
\nthe forestry sector. It has resulted in an even greater increase
\nof exploitation and further depletion of an important and vital
\nnatural resource to which the people of Indonesia rely for their
\nlivelihood and future survival.<\/p>\n
The root cause of this is corruption and non-existent law
\nenforcement. In addition, the demand for cheap illegal
\nIndonesian timber from consuming nations continues. While we
\nrecognize there has been a show of political will from the
\nEuropean Union nations to address their collective responsibility
\nas a consuming region, they have not gone far enough.<\/p>\n
Illegal logging is a crime and the only way to address this
\nis to bring in new legislation prohibiting illegally sourced
\ntimber and wood products from entering the EU.<\/p>\n
To date, the forestry sector of Indonesia still struggling
\nwith the availability of good, accurate, and reliable as well as
\nup-to-date data. Data transparency is still a big problem in the
\nforestry sector. The Ministry of Forestry does not really know
\nwhat the real forest conditions are in Indonesia. Without a good,
\naccurate and reliable database it is impossible to solve the many
\nproblems created by illegal forestry and equally impossible to
\nachieve sustainable forest management.<\/p>\n
We are in a crisis, and emergency radical measures are needed
\nnow as we are running out of time. The result, if it continues,
\nwill be the total destruction of Indonesia's tropical forests. We
\nrepeat, serious and emergency actions are desperately needed.
\nCombating illegal logging should be a top priority.<\/p>\n
The article was condensed from a presentation by the writer,
\ndirector of Forest Watch Indonesia and Telapak, at the CGI
\nconference on Thursday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/radical-measures-needed-to-stop-illegal-logging-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}