Community forest development called for

Community forest development called for

JAKARTA (JP): Experts called on Monday for the development of
a community forestry structure within the regional autonomy
framework, comprising local communities, the government and the
forestry authorities, for the purpose of managing the country's
some 142 million hectares of forest.

"Everyday there is massive forest destruction, which is
estimated to reach an average of 1.3 million hectares per year,"
Miranty Abidin of the Tropika Alam Institute told journalists on
the sidelines of a forestry seminar here.

"In this era of decentralization, if local administrations are
not careful ... those forests will end up being mismanaged and we
will lose them for sure," she said.

Political observer Andi Mallarangeng further said that
centralized forestry management had led to the destruction of
natural resources over the past few decades.

"In the previous era, all contracts for forest concessions and
all the rulings on the matter were decided by the central
government."

"There was almost zero participation by the local people in
the matter. Forests were exploited in the interests of the
company and the government, and the people never had an equal
share," Andi said, pointing to the fact that only a small amount
of forestry revenues was entered in the state budget.

He suggested that community forests be coordinated under a
directorate general of the forestry ministry.

"Decentralization is an opportunity for the local people, the
local administration and investors not only to exploit the
forests but also to manage the forests."

"People can say 'no' to investors if their schemes are
dangerous to the environment. This way they will have a stronger
bargaining position," Andi said.

Also speaking at the seminar was economist Hermawan Kertajaya
and Director General for Land Rehabilitation and Social Forestry
Abdul Fattah.

"We have to learn how to market the regions. We do not have
mayors or governors like in the developed countries who are used
to making deals with investors. They know how to protect and
safely use their natural resources," Hermawan said.

"Indonesia, however, is at the level of power and democracy
euphoria, so it's hard to expect the local leaders to be able to
cope with regional autonomy."

"Therefore, I am planning to establish a scheme on marketing
places in Indonesia in a bid to prevent local administrations or
local leaders -- in the 361 regencies -- from making wrong
decisions that will be damaging to their regions in the future,"
Hermawan explained. (edt)