Forest biodiversity under threat: Locals

Forest biodiversity under threat: Locals

JAKARTA (JP): Four forest inhabitants yesterday related their
experiences in an effort to show just how serious is the threat
to biodiversity in their immediate surroundings.

The four men were invited to address a gathering organized by
BioForum, a coalition of Indonesian non-governmental
organizations, on the sidelines of the ongoing international
biodiversity conference.

The four men from East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Lampung
and West Java described how the diverse plants in their
surroundings have changed or are on the point of changing.

Lukas Alpius, a villager of Jelmu Sibak in the Bentian Besar
district of Kutai, East Kalimantan, said that a proposed 1,600-
hectare forestry estate will wipe out 52 varieties of paddy, 42
varieties of rattan, more than 70 varieties of fruit and scores
of herbal plants.

Adjacent to that area, the government is opening up a new
settlement area on a 87.5-ha plot and a rubber plantation on
another 80 ha, Lukas said.

The people in Bentian have been asking the government to
revoke the concession permits of the timber company, PT Hutan
Mahligai, since 1993, he said. The government has not responded
to the requests, he added.

Maniamas Miden, a tribal leader from the Aur Sampuk sub-
district in Sengah Temila, West Kalimantan, said his people are
worried about rumors that forest concessionaires are about to
come and take over their land.

"This is sacred land. We cannot convert the forest, though by
custom we are allowed to take timber and hunt animals," he said.

"I am afraid the medicine men will find difficulties in
looking for healing plants when the forestry estates come in,"
Miden said.

Sandra Moniaga, one of the organizers of the talks, said most
forestry estates being developed in Indonesia are modeled on
those established in non-tropical countries which limit the
number of species of plants to one.

The monocultural practice threatens the environment inside and
outside forests, she said.

"The government should remember that the forestry estates are
not only changing the forests into only acacia or sengon
(albizzia falcata) trees," said Sandra, who works with an NGO in
West Kalimantan. "The land outside the forests also has a variety
of plants, which monoculture eventually affects."

Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja told reporters
earlier that he regretted the negative impact of the
establishment of forestry estates on forests' biodiversity.

Yesterday's talks also covered the question of intellectual
property rights and community rights.

Today's topics at the BioForum include women and the
environment and patent rights in the context of North-South
relations.

Another NGO, Konphalindo, is scheduled to host talks on the
Southeast Asian perspective of the Convention on Biodiversity.

Sarwono is among the scheduled speakers. (anr)