Deforestation causing water crisis in Java

Deforestation causing water crisis in Java

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Java is on the verge of a water crisis as the island's forests become depleted, with no significant efforts underway to halt the deforestation.

The total forested area in Java currently stands at only 20 percent of the island, far below the ideal level of at least 30 percent.

"This is disappointing," said F. Rahardi, the former chief editor of Trubus agricultural magazine.

The 30 percent figure is still below what is found in developed countries. Japan, for example, has a total forested area exceeding 60 percent of its total lands.

Experts have attributed the deforestation in Java to the local culture, in which the Javanese continue to use wood for cooking and for building houses.

In addition, illegal logging in a number of Java's remaining forests goes on unabated following the fall of the authoritarian New Order government.

"They (illegal loggers) come to our forests in large groups. It seems that they are not afraid of the forest rangers anymore. They think that they can do anything during the reform movement," said Masruch, an official at state-owned forest management company PT Perum Perhutani.

Masruch oversees some 700 hectares of forests in Mlonggo district, Jepara, Central Java. He oversees a staff of five.

Forest rangers are in a position where they can do little to stop the logging. If they arrest the illegal loggers and bring them to court, it is feared that people will protest and demand the detainees be freed.

There is even the fear that people will retaliate against the forest rangers, who are often threatened, along with their families.

This uncontrolled illegal logging will, in the long run, affect the availability of water.

According to Rahardi, as forests are lost there is a reduction in water catchment areas.

"As a result of the reduction of forest areas, water catchment areas have also decreased, and this will result in a scarcity of water during the dry season and flooding during the rainy season," he said.

Besides rapid deforestation, pollution from businesses is another cause for concern for the government and civil society.

There are numerous factories located along the banks of Java's rivers, because this makes it convenient for the factories to get water and to get rid of their waste.

The government has launched a number of programs to prevent factories from polluting rivers.

The most well known of these is the clean-river program, which has lost some of its popularity and effectiveness over time.

To change this situation, it is necessary to involve all parties in the effort to prevent deforestation and reduce pollution in Java, as well as other areas of Indonesia.

"The problems cannot be solved by the government alone, so the participation of all parties is being sought," said Erna Witoelar, the former minister of resettlement and regional infrastructure.

According to Erna, the key to a clean environment and sustainable development is the people's awareness of environmental issues.