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)