Stronger public role sought on environmental protection

Stronger public role sought on environmental protection

Indonesia is facing serious environmental problems, such as
unchecked illegal logging, untreated waste dumping and forest
fires. The new State Minister of Environment Nabiel Makarim
discussed his plans and views in an interview with The Jakarta
Post's Tertiani Simanjuntak and Pandaya. The following are
excerpts.

Question: Could you identify main environmental problems that
the government has to solve?

Answer: There are three. First, environmental degradation is
worsening. Second, institutions, including local administrations,
responsible for the environment lack the capability to deal with
the problems. Third, deforestation and pollution from mercury
used by illegal gold miners in the forests is rampant in
Kalimantan, Sulawesi and West Java.

Q: What are your priorities?

A: Illegal logging, forest fires and water quality. In my first
day in office, I already discussed illegal logging with the
forestry minister.

Q: How do you see environmental problems?

A: The environment is a complex issue which is difficult to
explain to the public. New problems keep arising and they need
new approaches to solve them. This needs a dynamic strategy.

The results of an initiative won't be seen until many years
later.

Q: What is the role of NGOs?

A: The NGOs and the public play a key role in environmental
issues. They can be even stronger if environmental issues become
a political issue. For example the public should have the power
to bring the mayor down or refuse a candidate whose commitment to
the environment is questionable.

I'm considering an alliance which mobilizes people to refuse
candidates who ignore environmental issues. I will discuss it
with leaders of political parties next month.

Q: Why is the state ministry toothless to stop deforestation?

A: It is the result of the then president Soeharto's policy to
limit the environment office's authority to a coordinating
function only (this policy has been maintained by Megawati's
government).

The state's Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal)
should have the authority to environmentally audit industries.

Q: How will you deal with this?

A: Law enforcement alone will not be effective to curb illegal
logging. We have to use more creative measures with different
treatment for the particular parties committing the crime; the
logger, the capitalist and the corrupt official who backs them.

One of the measures is an alliance between my office, the
Ministry of Forestry, the police and the military. International
debt-for-nature swap is another, aimed at reforestation.

I also want to establish "corporate forests" with major
companies like Microsoft and Nokia. The companies are asked to
fund regreening of denuded forests which will be named after
them.

Q: What are you doing to deal with forest fires?

A: Since forest fires grabbed a global attention in 1981, we have
improved the forest management system but we want to do more.

For example, the current forestry law requires that forest
concessionaires are responsible for everything that takes place
in the concessions, including fires.

But this is not very effective. Judges reject satellite photos
as evidence in court. We need an edict from the Supreme Court to
rectify that.

Now that the regencies have become autonomous, more problems
have arisen. There is confusion when it comes to who has the
authority to issue licenses or who is responsible for handling
fires.

Q: Do you plan any shock therapy to rectify the situation?

A: It's not easy. One big blow won't show any immediate result.
It's not like hoping to see a rainbow straight after the rain.

Q: Many environmental programs such as the Adipura award for city
cleanliness, the Clean River Campaign and industrial rating do
not work. Why?

A: It's a shame that the government stopped the industrial rating
system when I quit the state ministry office in 1998. It's ironic
because many countries like the Philippines and Mexico have
followed suit because the system is effective to enforce
industries' compliance to environmental laws in the country where
law enforcement is still weak. I will reactivate the program.

The Adipura award was discontinued in 1997 because the central
government could no longer offer an incentive to regents. In the
past, it was basically the president who appointed the regent. As
an incentive, they could be reappointed if they won the Adipura.
Now, they are answerable to the local legislative council.

The most effective way to keep every city clean is to create
good governance environmentally and a public which can pressure
industries and the local legislature.

Q: Many are worried that after achieving autonomy, regencies
would over-exploit natural resources. Are you of the same
opinion?

A: Yes. It's very tempting for the regent or mayor to sell out
the forest to gain income. Meanwhile, the public may take up to
four years to consolidate and make a stand against the policy.

The industrial rating scheme should be applied to the
regency/mayoralty. If they get the red ribbon, the regent/mayor
should be fired.