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.