Saving Kerinci Seblat National Park<\/p>\n
By Wiryono<\/p>\n
SUNGAI PENUH, Jambi (JP): Kerinci Seblat National Park, better
\nknown as TNKS (Taman Nasional Kerinci Seblat), is the second
\nlargest national park in Indonesia. It covers an area of more
\nthan 1.3 million hectares in the heart of the Bukit Barisan
\nmountain range in nine regencies in four provinces, namely,
\nJambi, Bengkulu, South Sumatra and West Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The centerpiece of the park is the active volcano, Kerinci
\nMountain, the second highest peak in Indonesia. Surrounding it is
\na wide range of habitats from lowland dipterocarp (tall hardwood)
\nforest to montane and alpine ecosystems.<\/p>\n
The very high biodiversity of TNKS has been internationally
\nrecognized and the park is designated as an ASEAN Heritage Site.
\nSeveral endangered big mammals, such as Sumatran tiger, Sumatran
\nrhinoceros, Asian elephant and clouded leopard live in the park.<\/p>\n
The park is home to more than 4,000 species of plants,
\nincluding the world's largest (Raflesia arnoldi) and tallest
\nAmorphophallus titanium flowers.<\/p>\n
The park also has a major hydrological function, since it is
\nthe water catchment area for major watersheds in four provinces,
\nsuch as Batanghari river in Jambi, Batangsangir and Indrapura in
\nWest Sumatra, Rawas and Rupit in South Sumatra, and Manjunto and
\nIpuh in Bengkulu.<\/p>\n
About 25 large and small rivers originate in this park. The
\nvegetation cover of the park is vital for river stream
\nregulation, flood prevention, erosion and landslide control. The
\npark is, therefore, essential for soil conservation. Due to its
\nvastness, the vegetation of the park is also important in
\nstabilizing the regional climate.<\/p>\n
Threats<\/p>\n
All the vital functions of the park are now in jeopardy.
\nEncroachment and illegal logging are rampant and have been
\nintensifying in the last two years. Poverty and lack of education
\nof local villagers contribute significantly to the problem.<\/p>\n
With no skill other than farming, local people have little
\nchoice but to clear the forest. There are more than 1.75 million
\npeople living near or within the park. Weak law enforcement
\naggravates the preservation problem.<\/p>\n
Only about 100 forest rangers are available to control a
\nborder that is 2,635 kilometers long. Limited in number and ill
\nequipped, the park rangers have little power to stop encroachment
\nand illegal logging, especially those backed by corrupt military
\npersonnel. The lax law enforcement indicates that the regional
\ngovernments have little political incentive to protect the park.<\/p>\n
Ironically, threats to the park integrity also are coming from
\nthe regional governments. Currently, the Governor of Jambi has
\nproposed new road construction that will run across the park.<\/p>\n
This road will improve access to several areas in Kerinci
\nregency, a large enclave inside the park. The government and
\nparliament of Kerinci support the proposal since the new road
\nwould stimulate economic growth and increase regional income.<\/p>\n
However, park management and environmental activists are
\nagainst this proposal because the new road would further fragment
\nthe delicate habitat, a condition detrimental to wildlife
\nsurvival.<\/p>\n
Besides, improved access to the park would lead to increased
\nillegal logging, poaching and encroachment.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, the Ministry of Home Affairs has turned down the
\nnew road proposal because the Indonesian Government has agreed
\nwith the World Bank (WB) not to build new roads inside the park
\nduring the implementation of the Kerinci Seblat Integrated
\nConservation and Development Project (ICDP) funded by the WB
\nGlobal Environmental Facility.<\/p>\n
Although new road construction will not proceed, the threat to
\nthe park is still strong. There is a growing negative attitude
\namong regional government officials toward the park. They view
\nthe park as a hindrance to regional economic development.<\/p>\n
The regent of Kerinci has demanded a share of income from the
\nforest. As the era of regional autonomy approaches, their demands
\nthat the park contribute to the regional income are growing.<\/p>\n
If the park manager fails to respond to this demand wisely,
\nthe fate of TNKS may follow that of Tanjung Puting National Park
\nin Kalimantan. It is now occupied by local villagers and part of
\nit has become plantation.<\/p>\n
Possible solutions<\/p>\n
To find an easy, quick solution to this complex problem is
\nimpossible. To arrive at a win-win solution, the problem requires
\nlong, intensive, genuine communication and hard work among all
\nconcerned.<\/p>\n
This problem is a part of the greater problem facing the
\nIndonesian government in the forest resource management. In the
\nlast few decades, local people and local governments have not
\nbeen actively involved in the management of forest resources, and
\nhave gained little economic benefit from forest industry.<\/p>\n
It is understandable that they now demand greater access and
\ncontrol of the forest resources. Sometimes, however, their
\ndemands conflict with conservation efforts, as is in TNKS.<\/p>\n
To arrive at an acceptable solution, the park manager, his
\nstaff and environmental activists, must listen to the demands of
\nthe local people and the local government.<\/p>\n
They should show their understanding of local economic
\nproblems and genuinely try to help solve them. Having shown their
\ngenuine sympathy, they can explain the importance of TNKS for
\nconservation of soil, water climate and biodiversity.<\/p>\n
Since poverty threatens the integrity of TNKS, the park office
\nand environmental activists need to help the local government to
\nalleviate those problems.<\/p>\n
Such a project is actually being conducted in TNKS through
\nICDP. One component of ICDP is village area development aimed at
\nimproving the economic conditions of people living around the
\npark. The project gives funds directly to the villagers.<\/p>\n
However, due to limited budget, not all villages get money,
\nand this situation may cause envy, which in turn may worsen
\nencroachment in the villages that do not receive funds.<\/p>\n
Also, there seems to be a lack of communication between the
\npark manager and other government offices because appreciation of
\nICDC is low. Therefore, improving communication is a key factor
\nin solving the problem.<\/p>\n
Communication with the public should also include the mass
\nmedia in order to get support for TNKS conservation. Articles and
\nnews in mass media are very effective for creating public
\nopinion. Negative opinions expressed in the mass media, usually
\nbased on ignorance, about environmental values should be
\ncountered with positive ones. The benefit of conservation to
\nmankind, especially those living near the park need to be
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
In the long term, environmental education should be added in
\nlocal curriculum content, from elementary school through high
\nschool.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the park manager needs support of law enforcement,
\nbecause, without strong law enforcement all conservation efforts
\nwill be useless. He has to convince the regional army chiefs,
\npolice chiefs, the regents and the governors in the four
\nprovinces that it is to their best interest to maintain the
\nintegrity of the park.<\/p>\n
Environmental issues are a crucial issue. If the Government of
\nIndonesia is not serious in protecting the environment, it may
\nnot benefit from loans and grants from international donors.
\nWorse situations could occur if international environmental
\norganizations campaign to boycott Indonesian products.<\/p>\n
If the Indonesian Government is serious about conservation, it
\nmight get debt reduction through a Debt for Nature Swap scheme.
\nThis scheme enables a debtor country to repay debts by
\ninstituting conservation efforts.<\/p>\n
Several developing countries have been successful in reducing
\ntheir debt through this scheme. Even better, when Kyoto Protocol
\ntakes into effect (probably in 2008), Indonesia could receive a
\nlarge amount of money by keeping the forests intact. As carbon
\npollutants sink, forests reduce carbon dioxide pollution. As the
\nowner of the forests, Indonesia may request compensation to the
\ncarbon dioxide polluting countries.<\/p>\n
The park manager and environmental activists have to convince
\nlocal people and government that in the near future TNKS will not
\nonly protect soil fertility, prevent flood, erosion and
\nlandslides, and protect wildlife, but it will also bring money.<\/p>\n
This can happen only if we maintain the integrity of TNKS.
\nThis is not an easy task. It requires a long process of intensive
\ngenuine communication and hard work among all concerned parties.
\nHowever hard it is, we must not give up. If we do, we will lose
\nTNKS, and we are bound for disaster.<\/p>\n
The writer is a PhD in ecology currently teaching at the
\nschool of forestry, Universitas Bengkulu, and a consultant of
\nKerinci Seblat Integrated Conservation and Development Project.<\/p>",
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