Indigenous tribe suffers in Bentuang-Karimun park

Indigenous tribe suffers in Bentuang-Karimun park

Atma Jaya Catholic University's nature lovers from Jakarta
grouped in Wanachala and went on an expedition to Bentuang-
Karimun National Park in West Kalimantan in August and September.
The seven-member team consisting of F. Wahyudin, Swandoyo, Lucy
Utari, Teddy Souisa, Judith Pascalis, Rheza E. Pesik and Rommy
Andreas writes about their observation of the park and the
indigenous Dayak tribe there for The Jakarta Post.

BENTUANG-KARIMUN, West Kalimantan (JP): Covering an area of
800,000 hectares, Bentuang-Karimun National Park is the largest
conservation area in this province.

Located in Kapuas Hulu district, the park was inaugurated on
Sept. 5, 1995. It is co-managed by the forestry ministry and the
World Wide Fund for Nature, which had been involved in the
conservation of the forest long before it was made a national
park.

Before the wilderness was declared a national park, the forest
was the source of living for Dayak tribespeople. It is rich in
flora and fauna. Rattan and gaharu (eaglewood) are the most
valuable plants. The tribespeople usually reap rattan to make
things like mats, hats and bags. The Dayak braid is famous.

Most of the finished rattan products are for their own use,
however some are sold or bartered for other things. Gaharu is
commonly used as an aromatic substance. People collect wood from
the forest to build houses. Belian is the most popular wood for
its strength and longevity.

Also abundant in the tropical forest is the invaluable swallow
nests which are a popular delicacy for townspeople. The hunt for
the bird nests has been going on for a long time and many locals
have made a living from it.

Hunting is one of the ways residents can make a living. Many
hunters are equipped with simple arms such as spears, sticks and
traps and with the help of dogs. But as the community is
increasingly exposed to the outside world, some have used more
"modern" equipment, such as air guns. The pellets are smuggled
from the neighboring Malaysian state of Sarawak.

Legally protected, the conservation area is divided into parts
which are periodically opened or closed to the public. Bringing
or taking species into or out of the park is prohibited unless
with permission from the authorities in charge of forest
conservation.

The change of status to the national park has brought a range
of consequences to the indigenous people. What would happen if
the forest people were told they were no longer permitted to cut
trees and go hunting?

Locals say they were not properly informed of the project.

"Basically, we don't object to the park but we are
disappointed because the authorities gave us only a list of
prohibitions," says Victor, a Dayak native.

"We are prohibited from opening farms and hunting. How are we
supposed to survive?"

Locals consider the policy bizarre. They do not comprehend why
they were suddenly barred from exploiting the forest -- something
they have done from generation to generation. Apparently, there
was little information from government officials regarding the
park project.

The lack of information is to blame for the widespread theft
of forest products and illegal hunting.

Park authorities cannot do anything to stop the illegal
activities because they cannot offer alternative employment to
the people.

According to the locals, the problem has been worsened by
poaching and stealing of forest products by Malaysians who can
freely sneak across the border.

The government says that it has no adequate human resources
for an information campaign. Although the park was inaugurated
three years ago, forest rangers were sent only in July this year.

The local forestry office says that few people are interested
in taking up a job in the jungle. Currently, they are making a
management plan for the park, including information campaigns for
the indigenous locals.

There have been no serious incidents related to the
establishment of the park but it is feared that conflicts will
burst into the open in several years to come unless basic
problems are properly addressed.