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.