New Year's Resolutions for our Environment

New Year's Resolutions for our Environment

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Nigel Sizer
Director, Forests Program
Asia Pacific Region
The Nature Conservancy
Jakarta
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I could start this year-end article with the predictable
environmental worrywart's factoids -- two million hectares of
Indonesia's forests destroyed each year, coral reefs poisoned and
bombed, and killer air pollution.

But what does "environment" mean in this country? Who cares
about tropical trees and colorful fish when they're hungry,
jobless, and their children cannot go to school because the
teacher wants a bribe?

Many millions care, and it is perhaps the poorest that care
most, although they cannot afford to join environmental groups
like World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy to express
their concerns.

Their day-to-day survival is intimately linked to the
environment. Rice fields dry up if there's no water from the
hills. For some, protein comes from animals they hunt in the
forest. For Jakarta's masses, the smog, soot and stagnant ooze
seep into their bodies each day as they somehow survive on the
edge of the troubled economy. These urban poor can escape neither
the contaminated drinking water by buying Aqua nor the noise and
dirty air with holidays at the beach.

There have been important environmental successes in Indonesia
in the past year. Two major marine protected areas, Bunaken in
North Sulawesi and Komodo National Parks in East Nusa Tenggara,
have documented improved conditions of coral reefs and are
producing more fish than before. This follows strict controls on
destructive fishing practices.

Both parks are also raising funds directly from visitors.
These steps in turn help build fish stocks and provide jobs in
these remote regions. Back on land, the Ministry of Forestry
showed leadership hosting a ground-breaking meeting of
governments to find ways to combat illegal logging and
corruption. The ministry persevered despite opposition to the
meeting from some of Indonesia's neighbors. And finally, on the
urban front -- after years of struggle -- the government enacted
laws to phase out toxic leaded gasoline.

Nonetheless, the general state of the environment in Indonesia
is great cause for concern. A recent Nature Conservancy survey
found that forest and marine resources continue to be exploited
at rates that result in loss of species and even entire
ecosystems.

In the eastern part of the country, for example, most shark
species are commercially extinct due to sharkfinning for export
markets. Lowland rain forest will be all but gone from Sumatra
within the next couple of years. Indonesia's front line
conservation professionals receive inadequate training and they
work in outdated and confusing systems, as well being poorly
paid. The rapid process of decentralization exacerbates these
weaknesses.

Environmental problems -- air and water pollution, forest
destruction, over fishing -- are often symptoms of deeper
challenges in our societies. These include corruption, poverty,
greed and ignorance due to inadequate education.

My colleagues confront these obstacles each day as they try to
protect forests and reefs in Kalimantan and Sulawesi. They must
try to deal with illegal logging, land conflict between
communities and companies, uncontrolled use of fire to clear
forest, as well as the little education of fisherman about the
dangers to life, limb and coral of fishing with dynamite and
cyanide.

The problems are exacerbated by a world beyond Indonesia's
borders that is hungry for cheap imports. These include plywood
for concrete molds in Japan, paper for packaging in the United
States and palm oil to substitute more costly vegetable oils in
global commodity markets. We are all connected to the degradation
of Indonesia's environment, wherever we live, rich or poor.

The clean and healthy world that we dream of is in retreat in
Indonesia. Reversing the trend is not a priority of the
government. This is hardly surprising but maybe it is not
desirable either. With its limited resources, it might be
preferable for the government to tackle the problems that lie at
the root of environmental degradation and that go far beyond the
green theme.

So here, humbly and respectfully, are four New Year's
resolutions proffered to Indonesia for the environment. None are
environmental, but each one would transform the future of this
country and indirectly improve the prospects for Indonesia's
natural heritage.

First, combat corruption with root and branch reforms of the
judiciary, police and other law enforcement agencies. More than
half the logging in Indonesia's rain forests is illegal. When the
trees are cut nearly everyone gets a cut. Combating forest and
fisheries crime goes hand-in-hand with greater effort to reduce
corruption generally. Less corruption would also help urban
dwellers through enforcement action against polluting vehicles
and industries as well as improve the city's water supply.

Second, reform and empower IBRA (Indonesian Bank Restructuring
Agency) to do its job properly. A vast number of poorly
performing companies are kept afloat through the stagnating
waters of IBRA's bureaucracy. These include over 100 bankrupt
forestry companies, many of which consume illegal timber and are
effectively receiving government subsidies to stay in business.
Clear social and environmental policies should be built into
IBRA's asset disposal procedures to ensure that these operations
benefit the public. Operations of this key agency should be
transparent and accountable and, in return, it should be freed
from political interference to finish its job speedily.

Third, catch up with decentralization. The old Jakarta-
centered system was long overdue for devolution to the provinces
and districts. Now that such reforms are underway far more effort
is needed to help local governments and civil society manage
their newfound authority and responsibility.

For example, hundreds of millions of dollars will soon flow to
Irian Jaya as new oil and gas fields come on line, which if
misspent could wreak havoc. Unneeded highways could be pushed
through the forest, unwieldy agricultural schemes could clear
vast areas, and delicate mangroves and fisheries could be easily
harmed. Careful planning, training of local officials, open
government, and strong civic engagement should be promoted as a
matter of urgency.

Finally, educate all Indonesia's children and emphasize the
value of the environment in every curriculum. Nearly 30 million
youngsters have been pulled out of school in this country because
their parents can no longer afford to let them study. People
unaware of problems are unlikely to be a constituency to address
them. A generation of environmentalists could be in the making,
but only if they benefit from the basics of a good education.