Tanjung Puting National Park<\/p>\n
From Tempo<\/p>\n
The increased felling of trees in several of Indonesia's
\nnational parks, long the nation's proud assets, such as in
\nTanjung Puting National Park (TNTP), Gunung Leuser National Park
\n(TNGL) and Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS) is not only
\nsaddening but a serious cause for concern.<\/p>\n
The latest victim of the plunder is TNTP, with its lush and
\neasy-to-reach forest along the river and swamps.<\/p>\n
As a nature lover and researcher, seventeen years ago I often
\nvisited TNTP, and found that trees had been felled by local
\nresidents only for their daily requirements. However, soon this
\nchanged into a lucrative business financed by those who took
\nadvantage of the negligence of government officials.<\/p>\n
Due to weak supervision after the reform era had begun, I
\nthink the national park authorities or the local administration
\ncannot do much. Actually the local residents around TNTP are
\naware that what they are doing is illegal and is tantamount to
\nplunder, but they just want to express how annoyed they feel
\nbecause of the unfair treatment they have received, especially
\nregarding the forest concessionaires who made huge profits for
\nyears in and around Central Kalimantan, but did not contribute to
\nlocal economic development.<\/p>\n
The prosperity is only enjoyed by foreign investors, forestry
\nofficials and some businessmen in Jakarta, who have divided the
\nlots (containing trees previously felled by the local residents
\nusing traditional methods), but now the local residents are
\naccused of stealing.<\/p>\n
The plunder started after the reform era began in early 1997.
\nIn a few years I have witnessed the rising prosperity of West and
\nEast Kotawaringin (Central Kalimantan) and the emergence of local
\nbusinessmen suddenly becoming rich. In the middle of the
\ncountry's economic crisis they managed to establish private
\nenterprises, while realizing that if they did not carry out their
\ncurrent businesses, others with unclear purposes would.<\/p>\n
I see a few alternatives to the handling of problems
\nsurrounding TNTP:<\/p>\n
1. Leave it to local residents to decide whether they still
\nwant to continue felling the trees illegally (which will later
\ncause floods and threaten their property and lives -- similar to
\nthe recent predicament in Nias).<\/p>\n
2. Hand over the forest concession (whatever is left behind)
\nto be managed by the local residents, as proof of government's
\ncommitment to economic improvement and local autonomy. This way
\nthe felling of trees will only occur in concession areas already
\nbelonging to the local residents, instead of in the TNTP area.<\/p>\n
3. The government and NGOs (local as well as international)
\nmust have programs and a clear agenda to save TNTP, among others
\nthrough long term plans to train local residents to
\nprofessionally manage their plots and increase the output of
\nagriculture, fishery and animal husbandry (including the pepper
\nand coconut trees close to TNTP).<\/p>\n
A security approach to TNTP's problems in the near future, I
\nthink, would be futile and costly and might create new collusion.
\nTherefore the suggestion by the Regent of West Kotawaringin to
\nacquire funds for security should be changed in favor of the long
\nterm program suggested above.<\/p>\n
FACHRUDDIN MAJERIE MANGUNJAYA<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tanjung-puting-national-park-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }