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Over the next 40
years, the world's population is expected to double. Much of
this population growth will occur in developing
countries. Coping with this population
growth will be one
of the great challenges of the 21st century.
Cities will need to expand to provide
housing and jobs and agricultural lands surrorunding those cities
will disappear population
growth will be one of the great challenges of the 21th century Cities
will need provide housing and jobs and agricultural lands surrounding those
cities will disappear
population growth will be one of the great challenges of the 21st century. Cities will need to expand to provide housing and jobs and agricultural lands surrounding those cities will disappear if land is not carefully managed. The pressure on agricultural lands will occur at a time when food production must be increased to accommodate population growth.
Where will people
turn to grow their crops? One fear among economists
and environmentalists is that farmers will have to increasingly
turn to forested lands for agriculture. To prevent
this from occurring, Indonesia's swampland conversion program
will enable increased food production while protecting critical
ecosystems. Underway since the 1970s, 2.4 million hectares
of swamp land have been developed for agriculture, providing
income opportunities for more farmers. Swamp land conversion
projects are chosen carefully to balance agricultural production
with the protection of critical lowland ecosystems.
By comparison, more
than 60 percent of Indonesia's huge land base is tropical
forests. And even
more significant, these forest lands will remain permanent forests
because of the land classification system. That means they will exist 40
years from now, and even 400 years from now.
Tropical forests
cover many of the 17,000 islands of
the Indonesian archipelago,
including the four
largest islands - Sumatra, Kalimantan,
Sulawesi and Irian Jaya. These tropical
forests constitute 56 percent
of the total Indonesian land mass, and represent approximately 10
percent of the world's remaining tropical
forests. They harbor 17 percent of the
world's total flora and fauna species.
Such a vast natural
resource also translates into an economic
asset. The government has encouraged
the development of a forestry industry
as a means of providing income and
to support its on-going battle against
poverty. As was the case in the
United States, Europe and many developing countries, Indonesia's
early forestry policies did not
take into consideration the full value of these
lands. The country began commercial
harvesting around 35 years ago, and
for much of this period, the
forests were used
merely as a source of timber
and, once cleared, as land for
agriculture and
development.
In recent years, however, the Indonesian government has come to realize that its tropical forests are important as a permanent home to their indigenous populations, as one of the planet's most important reservoirs of biological diversity, and as an important component of long-term socio-economic progress. Today, sustainable development of Indonesia's vast forest resources is officially recognized and plays an integral part in the development and implementation of forest policies.
One of the most important
components of sustainable development is Indonesia's
land classification system.
FOREST CLASSIFICATIONS
As a valuable national resource, Indonesia's tropical forests are essentially public lands managed and protected by the national government. To ensure a balance between preservation and development, Indonesia has classified all forest lands into one of four separate categories:
National Parks and Wildlife Refuges
Indonesia has developed an extensive system of national parks and refuges to protect the country's unique biodiversity. These lands have been set aside primarily to preserve their flora and fauna ecosystems. Parks and refuges comprise 16 percent of Indonesia's forests and nine percent of the country's entire land base. By comparison, the 354 units of the U.S. National Park Service account for three percent of the land mass of the United States.
Protected Forests
These watershed forests have unique environmental and hydrological characteristics. They are completely closed to commercial and even recreational uses. Protected forests account for 27 percent of Indonesia's total forests.
Limited Production Forests
Timber harvesting is permitted if certain environmental concerns are addressed. Only selective felling of trees is permitted. Twenty-seven percent of Indonesia's total forests are included in this classification.
Regular Production Forests
Production of timber, rattan, saps and other forest products is permitted under government regulated harvesting and species yields.
In addition to these
forests, Indonesia's Department of Forestry has
jurisdiction over approximately 70 million acres of additional land, which
are designated as conversion areas.
These lands have low levels of biodiversity; most
are covered with shrubs, tall grass and trees of low commercial value.
They are designed for conversion to timber
plantations, agricultural lands, transmigration
purposes, or other non-forest uses. By converting some of its
forest lands for agriculture and development, Indonesia hopes to limit
"slash and burn" agriculture practices.
Classifications
by Land Use
Non-governmental
Organizations and Innovative
Conservation:
There are many examples of cooperative NGO/Indonesian environmental partnerships. The types of projects range from preserving biodiversity, creating ecotourism projects, educating local communities, enabling scientific studies, promoting private sector involvement in the environment. The resource conservation expertise that NGOs bring to Indonesia have led to successful, creative ventures throughout the country, including the following:
Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy's
mission is to preserve global biodiversity.
It manages
two successful projects
in Indonesia on Sulawesi, one in Lore
Lindu National
Park and the other
in Morowali Nature Reserve. These two
areas are top priorities because Sulawesi
is at the crossroads of Asia and Australia
-- Wallace's Line -- and many of Sulawesi's
plants and animals are found nowhere
else on earth. The Conservancy works closely with the Indonesian
government and local communities on both of
these projects.
The two programs involve building working relationships with key Indonesian, U.S. and international organizations to establish a pattern of cooperation; hiring and training Indonesians for key staff positions; developing sound business plans to help launch community-based enterprises, such as butterfly farming, rafting and honey production; starting conservation awareness programs for communities living near the parks; and establishing an Indonesian Corporate Council for the Environment to foster private sector support for conservation programs.
In Lore Lindu, the
Conservancy is also developing a 25-year resource
management plan at the Government's request, which will guide land use
policies, strengthen local involvement, and educate surrounding peoples
about the value of stewardship.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
The WWF is involved
in several projects in Indonesia.
Its marine conservation unit
works with local governments to deter cyanide
and dynamite fishing and recently
built over 100 fish
ponds in Irian Jaya's rain forest.
The ponds provide a source of
income and food
for local communities, and an incentive
for villagers to care for
the forest. The
ponds require a supply of fresh
water, which is only available if the water-retaining roots of surrounding
trees are kept intact.
The WWF has been active in the Ujung Kulon National Park since 1964 protecting the Javan rhino, the most endangered of the five remaining rhino species. To increase the population, they worked with the Indonesian Directorate of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation to set up strict patrolling of the park, developed a community-based awareness program of the rhino, and funded a joint scientific study between Vietnamese and Indonesian scientists. As a result, Javan rhinos were discovered in areas where their presence had not been known.
The WWF is also working
in the Arafak Mountain Nature Reserve on Irian Jaya
to develop eco-tourism. Human activities, especially agriculture, are
threatening the biodiversity of the reserve.
Working with the local Hatam
people, the project's goal is to develop butterfly farming in the reserve's
bufferzone. The enterprises are based on community cooperation, not
competition. Last year, thirty farmers were
trained in butterfly handling and export
preparation. Ten farmers were trained in passion fruit syrup production,
while others were trained in project planning and monitoring. The
butterfly project
has been a catalyst for other income opportunities. Using similar
techniques, farmers have organized themselves to reduce competition
and distribute benefits of cultivating specialty
produce.
Conservation
International (CI)
Indonesia is among the five "megadiversity" countries CI involved in -- so called because Indonesia is one of the most biologically rich countries on Earth. CI works with Indonesian organizations to strengthen institutional capacity to preserve marine and forest ecosystems. In this regard, CI offers technical and financial support to Indonesian institutions and facilitates long-term field projects. CI currently works in two regions: the Togian Islands of Central Sulawesi and Irian Jaya.
The Togian Islands project involves seven islands that feature pristine coral reefs and are home to several endemic species. The long-term goals of the project include establishing a sound scientific basis for future resource use, educating communities to take an active stewardship role of the natural resources, developing business enterprises, and developing guidelines for safe marine tourism.
Irian Jaya is home to one of the world's last undisturbed tropical forest wilderness areas and supports biologically diverse coral reefs. CI is cooperating with Indonesian scientific institutions to develop a biological inventory and priorities for preserving biodiversity. CI also works with and Indonesian NGO to increase community knowledge of conservation, to develop economic enterprises that center around sustainable use and to document traditional Asmat forest uses and trees important for their wood carvings. CI will publish a book on Irian Jaya's little-known ecology once the inventory is completed.
Wildlife Preservation Trust International
Wildlife Preservation
Trust International is working with local communities of
the Gunung Halimun National Park to develop eco-tourism geared to
attracting visitors from Jakarta, to educate
villagers about preservation, and to monitor
the biodiversity of the area. The project has the backing of McDonald's
Corporation, an important step in establishing future private-sector
partnerships. The goal is to help counter the threats of agriculture,
mining and timber harvesting around the park. The park supports
indigenous communities, an important watershed
for Java, and more than 200 bird species
and over 500 plant species, many of what are endemic.
Orangutan Reintroduction
Project at Wanariset
The Orangutan Reintroduction
Project at Wanariset, East Kalimantan
is a privately-funded organization helping to develop
conservation awareness in Indonesia.
Orangutan literally translates as 'people
of the forest'. Once widespread
throughout the forests of Southeast Kalimantan
and southern China, they are
now an endangered
species and only found in small pockets
in Sumatra and
Kalimantan.
There are many threats
to the orangutan, but the most
obvious have been hunting,
the steady
destruction of their natural habitat
and a lucrative black market trade.
It is illegal
to own an orangutan in Indonesia, but
other countries in the region do not
have similar laws and a black market trade continues to prosper.
Orangutans are susceptible to human diseases and those in captivity
often suffer from malnutrition. As baby orangutans
become adults, they are unsuitable
to live in human households. Owners frequently abandon the animals.
The Orangutan Reintroduction
goes a long way to help change the desperate
plight of the orangutans.
The brainchild of Dr. Herman Rijksen, the project concentrates
on reintroducing once captive orangutans to the wild, to areas where
wild orangutan populations do not exist.
The main goals of
the project are to enable the Indonesian Ministry of
Forestry to
apply existing rules for the protection of the orangutan. Those kept
as pets can
be legally confiscated by government officials and brought to
Wanariset; develop a local grassroots awareness for nature conservation
in general; and conduct detailed
studies of the adaptation of orangutans to their new
environments and their influence on the composition of the forest.
New arrivals to the center go through a slow reintroduction process which begins with a two to three week quarantine, depending on their health. They are given a complete physical and clinical examination which includes fingerprints and tests for Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B, C and E. Healthy orangutans then proceed to the next stage of socialization. Those who are considered unfit for socialization are kept in quarantine or transferred to the center's clinic for treatment.
Orangutans live in
groups in their natural environments and must learn to adapt
to group living before their reintroduction to the wild. Most of the orangutans
that arrive at Wanariset are under ten years
old and have to learn all the basics of
group living if they are to survive in the wild. For young babies, the
socialization stage also gives them companionship
with other youngsters of similar ages.
The orangutans are
not just released into the forest in the hope that they make it.
All release sites are carefully studied to make sure that the right fruits
and trees are available for them
as well as ensuring that the area is geographically
isolated from any wild groups.
The first release site for the reintroduction project has been the Sungai Rain Forest in East Kalimantan. It is approximately 11,000 hectares of protected virgin rainforest and is surrounded by swamps inhabited by crocodiles. Access to the forest is via a cable car suspended over the swamp. The next release site to be surveyed is a protected area to the south in the remote Metarus Mountains.
To date there have been six separate releases from the work at Wanariset, at various sites in the Sungai Forest. As of May 1996, there are seventy-three orangutans at the Wanariset center in various stages of reintroduction. All existing cages are full and additional facilities are needed to cater for future arrivals. Based on the numbers of orangutans currently in captivity, it is estimated that the flow of animals to Wanariset will remain high for the next four years. After this time the situation will be reassessed and it is hoped that the public education program will already have had the desired effect, thereby reducing the need to repatriate orangutans to their natural habitats.
The Orangutan Reintroduction
Program at Wanariset is sponsored locally,
mainly by
groups and organizations
in East Kalimantan. Sponsorship began
with the International School in Balikpapan
with additional support coming from
both Balikpapan and Jakarta Operational costs are largely covered by the
Orangutan Adoption Program and members
of the Balikpapan Orangutan Society
Program. Sponsors are the only ones allowed
to visit the center, which is normally off-limits
to visitors.
Management Of Indonesia's Forest Industries
Indonesia is committed to achieving sustainable development in its forests by the year 2000, which means a level of production that does not endanger species living in the forests or the trees. Achieving this goal requires a variety of commitments by the government and private industry.
Indonesia's forests
are managed under a system by which the national government
awards concessions of forest lands to private companies. The average
concession is about 250,000 acres. Each is divided into 35 blocks,
only one of which may be harvested per year.
These concessions are harvested according
to a set of principles called reduced-impact logging (RIL).
Selective felling - in which only five to six trees per hectare are
removed - is a primary method to prevent damage
to surrounding trees. Other RIL techniques
include directional felling, pre-cutting vines, and extracting
timber on properly
constructed skid rails.
The goal of these
techniques is to harvest the forest's timber is ways that save
surrounding
trees, use fewer logging roads, improve water quality in forest
streams, and reduce erosion.
Harvesting is followed by enrichment planting if young trees of commercial species are not prevalent already. A harvested block is then left untouched for 35 years to permit natural regeneration of the forest.
During the early years of commercial logging in Indonesia, timber was primarily a source of revenue to replace declining oil exports. But in the 1980s, the Indonesian forestry community moved its industry "downstream" to develop value-added forestry products that provide additional jobs and income in underdeveloped regions of the country. Indonesia adds value to the raw material of its forests through the production of plywoods, molds, furniture, rattan, saps, paper and pulp products. Forest products are today Indonesia's third largest export, after oil and apparel/textiles. Wood products accounted for $5.5 billion in exports in 1995; paper and pulp contributed an additional $1.4 billion in export earnings. Indonesia's forestry industry today employs more than 10 million workers, and the industry represents the economy's singl largest industrial employer.
Indonesia has created
an extensive system of timber estates and plantations to
reduce logging pressures on natural forests. Indonesia's paper, pulp and
rayon industries are becoming
increasingly dependent on industrial timber estates.
The goal is to reduce
harvesting in natural forests by two percent per year.
All concessionaires
are required to pay a tax of $16 per
cubic meter of harvested timber to fund a national
reforestation campaign. Over the past decade,
Indonesia has replanted more than 11 billion
new trees, covering 10 million hectares.
All logging companies
must also pay a fee of $1.00 per cubic
meter to finance an inventory
mapping system, which involves aerial photography,
satellite remote sensing and ground surveys.
Over the last six years, Indonesia has
invested $250 million in its mapping effort. While
this represents a large investment for a developing
country, it will
permit the government to more effectively monitor forestry activity
spread across the 3,000-mile wide archipelago. All of the information
collected is digitally encoded into topographic,
mosaic, or digital maps and integrated
into the Geographic Information System, a comprehensive database.
The GIS holds information on soil conditions, distribution of plant
and animal species, harvesting and replanting
patterns, and the impact of human infrastructure.
Aerial mapping is conducted every five years, while
satellite monitoring is done in the interim to identify any sudden alterations
in the forests. This same technology
is also being utilized for urban planning and public
works projects, from site selection to construction.
Toward Sustainable Development In Indonesia's Tropical Forests
Today, no forest
in the world is immune to human population
growth and economic
development. Indonesia,
with a significant proportion of its
forest resources intact,
has the opportunity
to keep these lands permanently forested
through
forward-looking
policies and management.
One method that will have a significant impact on consumption in the next century is ecolabelling. Indonesia is working with the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) to develop an internationally-recognized ecolabelling system for wood products by the year 2000. This means consumers will know that Indonesian forest products were produced from sustainably managed forests, giving Indonesian wood products a competitive edge in a global market
To meet this goal,
Indonesia is investing in the technology and manpower
necessary to establish an ecolabelling program. It will demonstrate by
example Indonesia's commitment to developing
innovative solutions for tomorrow's global
forestry problems. Independent experts are currently assessing all forest
concessionaires to determine their readiness
to meet ITTO's Year 2000 standards.
Indonesia's forestry
industry is also investing in research,
training and technology. Research and training
programs are important to ensure that a qualified
pool of local experts is available to manage
its forest lands in the future. For example, the
Indonesian forestry industry provides scholarships
for forestry students and researchers throughout
Indonesia. Students and researchers can
also receive on-the-job training to fulfill their academic
requirements. Programs undertaken in
cooperation with
local universities and non-government
organizations (NGOs) are also educating
the next generation of Indonesian experts to manage the forests.
As a result of forestry research, Indonesia is developing and utilizing high-yielding, fast-growing seeds to reforest timber estates and plantations and to increase agricultural production, thus reducing the need to convert forests to farmland. Indonesia's tropical climate with abundant year-around rainfall is ideal for replenishing the forests. Combined with new, fast-growing seeds, some species of trees that once took 50-60 years to reach full maturity are now mature within 20 years!
In an additional effort to prevent "slash-and-burn" agricultural practices, Indonesia established in 1991 a Transmigration Timber Estate program, offering permanent employment for farmers willing to resettle to timber estates on Indonesia's outer islands. Indonesia is introducing sophisticated environmental technologies in its forest products industry, including state-of-the-art plantation, milling, air and water emissions control, and quality control processes.
One such example is the Kiani Keratas pulp mill. In a remote north-east corner of Kalimantan three hours away from the nearest town, the $1 billion Kiani Keratas pulp mill serves as an example of industry using the best available technology to protect the environment and produce the highest quality product at a low per unit cost. Planning for the mill took years in order to locate the best site, technology, and production methods. In fact, new technologies that were ideal for the Indonesian wood species underwent two years of testing at North Carolina State University.
The mill has received ISO9002 certification for its spill collection systems, a scrubber system that reduces airborne emissions, and water treatment that uses two clarifiers and 12 sand filters that meet Western effluent standards.
Aside from using the best technology, Kiani Keratas is also managing the surrounding environment. The mill owns an adjacent forest concession of 180,000 hectares where its own supply of wood will be planted. Of that, 40,000 hectares are set aside for a wildlife refuge and conservation. The mill is also introducing sustainable forest management into an area where local populations practiced small-scale slash and burn agriculture.
The future of the forests is the future of humanity. Their survival is our survival. Indonesia, with a responsibility for 10 percent of the planet's tropical forests, has taken steps to face the challenge of protecting and preserving these lands for future generations. At the same time, the nation is using its natural resources to improve the quality of life for its citizens.
You can learn more
about Indonesia's tropical forests by joining us on a tour of
our Flora,
Fauna
and Birds.
We hope these will excite and inform you,
because only by understanding the physical
beauty and variety of the forests will
you appreciate their importance. We also hope you will plan a trip to
Indonesia and see these in their full glory and splendor. They are truly
one of Earth's greatest treasures.
