Stop forest fires<\/p>\n
The state minister of environment has said that 65 percent of
\nthe fires now burning in East Kalimantan are the responsibility
\nof timber and plantation companies. These fires are illegal. The
\nrich company owners know it, the public knows it and the
\ngovernment knows it, as they have given the rules. The fires have
\nnow gone on for a year, and the government has not canceled the
\nconcessions or penalized the concessionaires.<\/p>\n
Further, we are told that about 300 people are working daily
\non the ground in order to stop the fires. In addition, the
\ngovernment has deployed two water bombers. This is the total
\nnational input to stop fires which are destroying large areas of
\nprimary rain forest, fires which also cause big economic losses
\nto the local people and to the nation, but not to the
\nconcessionaires.<\/p>\n
Nations and people all over the world are worried because of
\nthe magnitude and the consequences of these huge fires. And only
\n300 people are engaged to stop the fires. This is the number of
\npeople even a small village would be able to mobilize itself if
\nits environment were really threatened.<\/p>\n
Based on the above information, people can only conclude that
\nthe government, or rather the powerful part of the government, is
\nnot, in reality, interested in stopping the forest fires of East
\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
I shall not elaborate on the reasons for this reality, it is
\nup to the readers to think for themselves.<\/p>\n
But the forest fires must be stopped, and this must happen
\nbefore the last tree of the rain forest is burned down. I suggest
\nthat an attempt be made to utilize local expertise in fighting
\nthe forest fires.<\/p>\n
If we consider who has lit the fires, and are told that 65
\npercent of the fires are the responsibility of owners of timber
\nand plantation companies, then these are people coming from
\noutside Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Concerning the remaining 35 percent, they are lit by what is
\ncalled local farmers. These farmers also come from outside
\nKalimantan. They are transmigrants from Java and Madura,
\nfrustrated over the poor soil condition in the planned or free
\ntransmigration sites, and, therefore, they are chasing for better
\nsoil.<\/p>\n
In addition to the people who lit the fires, there exists a
\nDayak population of about three million people, who live in the
\nforest areas of Kalimantan. They are known as the indigenous
\npopulation of the area. These people have, for hundreds of years,
\ngrown rice and vegetables on their ladang in the forest areas,
\nusing shifting cultivation or a slash-and-burn method. Of course,
\nthey have selected the best, most fertile land for their farming.<\/p>\n
If they need a new land, they know how to start a fire and
\nkeep it going exactly to the areas they wish to clear. And they
\nalso know how to stop the fires, leaving the rest of the forest
\nintact.<\/p>\n
I would like to suggest that the Dayaks be mobilized to fight
\nthe forest fires, and, thus, they would feel respected. They
\nshould be paid a reasonable wage, provided with boots, gloves and
\nchain saws in addition to their traditional axes and knives. Five
\nthousand to 10,000 people should be a reasonable number to do the
\njob. Why not give them a fair chance to fight the forest fires on
\ntheir own land?<\/p>\n
ARIF FATHUR RAHMAN<\/p>\n
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/stop-forest-fires-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }