New Year's Resolutions for our Environment

============================ Nigel Sizer Director, Forests Program Asia Pacific Region The Nature Conservancy Jakarta -----------------------------

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.