Indonesia: Mega-Rice Project and "Free Logging" in Central Kalimantan
10/29/97
OVERVIEW, SOURCE & COMMENTARY by EE
The International Fund for Animal Welfare provides insightful
commentary into the role that "mega-rice" projects are playing in
environmental destruction in Indonesia. This large-scale, destructive
and environmentally insensitive development effort has opened the way
for "free logging," where even conservation areas are at risk from out
of control illegal logging. In addition to the incredible amount of
human suffering caused by such short sighted development (of which the
recent fires are an example of worse to come, if Indonesia and the
World does not improve its forest conservation and management), the
orang-utan and other creatures and plants are clinging to their right
to exist amid ever increasing consumptive demands of Homo sapiens. NO
to mega-developments in tropical forests and YES to real community
development efforts which are environmentally sustainable and not
socially damaging.
g.b.
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Another Environmental Disaster Looms in Indonesia
Source: International Fund for Animal Welfare
Status: Distribute freely with accreditation to source
Date: October 10, 1997
Byline: Hasjrul Junaid, Asia Co-ordinator Tropical Rainforest
Programme
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NEWS RELEASE - NEWS RELEASE - NEWS RELEASE - NEWS RELEASE
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Brussels, 21st October, 1997
ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER LOOMS IN INDONESIA
DEMANDS FOR THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT TO RETHINK I MILLION
HECTARE
RICE PROJECT
As forest fires continue to rage out of control in Indonesia causing
untold environmental damage, creating dangerous levels of air
pollution for a huge surrounding area and destroying for ever the
natural habitat of endangered orang-utans and other rare species,
Hemmo Muntingh of the International Fund for Animal Welfare has today
launched an attack on another Indonesian environmental disaster in the
making. In an open letter to nine Ministers in Indonesia's government
he criticises their handling of the Mega-Rice Project in Central
Kalimantan.
While the forest fires in Borneo can be attributed to a number of
causes, logging companies acting illegally, inadequate controls and
the climate system producing conditions of extreme drought, the Mega-
Rice Project is an entirely government inspired scheme to turn an
enormous I million hectare area of peat swamp and forest into paddy
fields, thereby destroying a major source of biodiversity and an
important habitat for a large population of orang-utans and other
protected species.
In his letter, Hemmo Muntingh, Director of the Tropical Forest
Programme for IFAW, expresses his grave concern that the findings of
an Environmental Impact Assessment have not been released
independently but through the Ministry of Public works which has a
vested interest in minimising the report's recommended measures for
conservation and nature protection in order to advance road building,
forest clearing and construction schemes.
Despite the involvement of no fewer than nine Ministries in the
administration of the project and a Decree by the Ministry of the
Environment earlier this year which stressed that there would be
responsible management of this massive scheme, Mr. Muntingh cites
certain disturbing aspects of the present state of affairs which have
emerged through close monitoring of the situation, investigations in
the field, and consultation with national and international experts.
* Logging continues unchecked even in designated conservation areas by
so-called IPK concession holders who are not only linked to the
lucrative timber industry but also have powerful political influence.
* These same concession holders with concessions to fell any standing
trees have also been implicated in the recent fire-raising.
* These logging activities have caused unrest in the local population
and toxic substances used in the preservation of logs have polluted
the rivers and water supply, leading to the extinction of fish and the
death of protected animals in the area, including orang-utans, apes
and honey bears.
* As trees are felled or set on fire the forest dwelling orang-utans
and long-nosed apes are forced into villages where the damage they
cause encourages the local populace to capture and kill them
* The competing demands of population and conservation create a
problem which is constantly being shelved but which should be urgently
addressed. Population migration into this part of Indonesia has
already led to an acceptance of widespread illegal logging by former
concession holders, by those who are supposed to manage the forest, by
migrants and by the displaced local Dayak population. In Hemmo
Muntingh's opinion this "free logging" will be further exacerbated by
proposed programmes to transfer people to this area as part of the
Mega-Rice Project.
In view of the problems surrounding the Mega-rice project and in the
light of the recent forest fires, Mr Muntingh calls on the Indonesian
government to abandon this ill-conceived project altogether and to
consider alternative smaller-scale projects in areas already
devastated by the fires, always respecting the necessary balance
between development and conservation.
Failing this, Mr Muntingh urgently calls on the Ministers to issue a
decree establishing conservation areas within and around the Mega-Rice
Project in order to prevent the worst abuses. For his part, he offers
the Ministers support in protecting the fauna and flora of the region
possibly through a conference to draw up an integrated land management
scheme for Central Kalimanatan and in the establishment of a research
Institute, nature reserves and rehabilitation programmes to
reintroduce animals into the wild.
Despite past devastation, with the good will of all concerned, Hemmo
Muntingh, is convinced that the ecology of this region can still be
preserved for future generations. (Ends)
For more information: Hasjrul JunaidTel/Fax: (31) 20614 7972
IFAW EU Office
Tel: (32) 2 230 9717
Fax: (32) 2 231 04
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Letter to the 9 Indonesian Ministers on the Mega-Rice Project
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To
The Steering-team of the Peat Development Proyek of Central
Kalimantan
Chairman
Ir. Drs. Ginanjar Kartasasmita
State Minister for National Development Planning
Jalan Taman Surapati no. 2
Jakarta Pusat
Indonesia
Telefax: 00-62-21-334779
Members,
Ir. Radinal Muchtar
Minister of Public Works
Jalan Pattimura no. 20
Jakarta Selatan
Indonesia
Telefax: 00-62-21-7260769
Ir. Djamaluddin Suryohadikusumo
Minister of Forestry
Gedung Manggala Wana Bhakti
Jalan Gatot Subroto, Senayan
Jakarta
Indonesia
Telefax: 00-61-21- 5700226 /
5731820
Ir. Sarwono Kusumaatmadja
Minister of Environment/Head
Environmental Impact Management
Agency
Gedung Mentri Negara Lingkungan
Hidup
Jalan D.I. Panjaitan, Kebon Nanas
Jakarta Timur
Indonesia
Telefax: 00-62-21-8580301
Ir. Siswono Yudohusodo
Minister of Transmigration and
Forest Dwellers
Jalan Makam Pahlawan Kalibata no.
17
Jakarta Selatan
Indonesia
Telefax: 00-62-21-7989895
Yogie S. Memed
Minister of Internal Affairs
Jalan Merdeka Utara no. 7
Jakarta Pusat
Indonesia
Telefax: 00-62-21-3812221
Dr. Ir. Syarifuddin Baharsjah
Minister of Agriculture
Jalan Harsono M no.3
Ragunan
Jakarta Selatan
Indonesia
Telefax: 00-62-21-7804237
Ir. Sony Harsono
State Minister of Land
Affairs/Head National Land Agency
Jalan Sisingamangaraja no. 2
Jakarta Selatan
Indonesia
Telefax: 00-62-21-7250600
Dr. Mar'ie Muhammad
Minister of Finance
Jalan Lapangan Banteng Timur 2-4
Jakarta Pusat
Indonesia
Telefax: 00-62-21-3808384
Subject:THE MEGA-RICE PROJECT IN CENTRAL-KALIMANTAN;
FOREST FIRES AND THE FATE OF WILDLIFE
Brussels, October 17TH, 1997
Your Excellencies,
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is the largest
international animal welfare organisation in the world today. With 1,8
million supporters and offices in 14 countries around the globe, IFAW
works to protect animals and the environment, to preserve animal
species from extinction and to prevent animal suffering and cruelty.
Based on the above mentioned mission, we naturally wish to express our
deep regret at the forest fires that have recently plagued your
country and, we would like to offer any assistance within our power to
relieve the plight of the affected human and animal populations who
share dependence on the same ecosystem.
In light of our mission and mandate we also take the liberty of
addressing you on an issue in your country, which causes innumerable
animals to suffer and die and threatens some species with extinction.
We refer to the Mega-Rice Project of 1 million hectares in Central-
Kalimantan.
As you may know, the scientific community and nature conservationists
worldwide, including those in Indonesia, were extremely concerned when
in July 1995 the Government of Indonesia (GOI) announced the
implementation of this project because the allocated area for the
project, actually almost 1.5 million hectares, makes up part of the
largest continuous peat-swamp floodplain in western Indonesia and is
of paramount importance for millions of plant and wild animals.
Peat eco-systems are well known for their extreme fragility and are
important in providing natural resource functions such as water
retention, storage and supply, flood mitigation, erosion prevention
and pollution control. They are also a major reservoir of biodiversity
and a refuge for rare and endangered animals and plants. In this
latter context the peat swamp forests of Central Kalimantan harbour
the largest continuous population of Orang-utan in the world, more
than half of those in the whole of Borneo. Other animals, also
protected by Indonesian law, include Long-nose apes (Bekantan or
Nasalis larvatus), Owa apes (Hylobetes agilis) and Kelasi apes
(Presbytis rubicunda).
We, and many others concerned with wildlife protection have tried to
understand the implementation of the mega project in the context of
the noble aim of the Indonesian government to maintain self-
sufficiency in rice production for the nation, which was achieved in
1986, and to consider whether the loss of an entire ecosystem
containing countless plants and animals is justified in pursuing this
aim.
However, this search for understanding has, unfortunately, become
largely hypothetical since we are now horrified by the forest fires
which have been raging in many parts of Indonesia for several months
and have already caused the destruction which we fear. The fires have
not only become the source of illness for people in Indonesia and
neigbouring countries (especially, Malaysia and Singapore), but are
now, in fact, the latest suffering caused by mankind to the enormous
numbers of animals living in the forest, such as mammals, birds and
reptiles, some of which are peculiar to Borneo and which are unable to
protect themselves from human misconduct. We are especially concerned
about the fate of the Orang-utan, particularly symbolic to your
Government's efforts in animal protection, since its inclusion in the
Indonesian and international laws (CITES).
We are writing to you in relation to the fate of those thousands of
animals living in the forests of Central-Kalimantan that cannot defend
themselves, particularly in those areas included in the Mega-Rice
project. The current forest fires, apparently also raging in this
area, are yet another major example of how unsympathetic handling of
nature has produced a repetition of the same catastrophic impacts in
Indonesia as previous forest fires in 1983 and 1994. The existence and
life of these animals now depends on your immediate and effective
intervention.
We were relieved to learn that the Environmental Impact Assesment of
the Mega-Rice project commissioned, by the Government of Indonesia
from the renowned Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) was completed
at the end of last year, although many experts, including those in
Indonesia, have posed critical questions concerning its procedures and
therefore its effectiveness. We sincerely hope, taking into account
the effects of the latest catastrophe, that its findings and
recommendations may at least form the basis for wise handling of the
project in the future.
After monitoring the situation for almost two years, undertaking
consultations with a wide range of experts, outside as well as within
Indonesia and conducting field investigations in some of the areas
affected at the beginning of this year, we have come to the following
worrying conclusions:
1. The IPB's original EIA documents have not been made public to date.
What has been circulating instead is the version released by the
Public Works Ministry which commissioned the IPB study and is the main
implementation agency for the project.
2. The IPB's study concluded that 70% of the area planned for the
project should be conserved for a range of environmental, economical
and social purposes, one argument being that most of the soil is not
suited for optimal and large scale rice farming purposes. We are
worried that due to the increase in forest fires, the importance and
requirements of wildlife and nature protection are being sub-ordinated
to the establishment of infra-structure (e.g canal systems, roads),
forest-clearing and settlements, even though this project involves
nine ministries.
Put another way, we are very concerned that the EIA recommendations on
conservation made by the Bogor Agricultural Institute in its original
EIA report are being downgraded by the Ministry of Public Works for
its own operational and technical ends. It would also appear, that
relevant ministries have not yet taken an active role in ensuring
rightful implementation of these recommendations.
These concerns are based on the fact that, despite the Decree by the
Ministry of Environment on the Agreement of EIA, Environmental
Management Planning and Regional Environmental Monitoring Planning
dated May 23rd 1997, which emphasises responsible conduct in all of
the Project's activities, we are still witnessing:
1. unchallenged logging operations by the so-called IPK-
concessionaries (concession to utilise standing trees), even in areas
such as Sungai Jaya which have been recommended as conservation areas.
These IPK-holders not only have links with the timber industry, but
also have connections with powerful forces in the political sphere,
making it difficult to excert control over their activities.
2. IPK operations have caused unrest among local Dayak communities.
The use of so-called "Racun-Ramin" (Ramin-poison) to conserve felled
Ramin logs is not only responsible for the decrease and extinction of
fish in the rivers over the years, but is now also believed to be the
cause of severe toxic water pollution leading to the death of
protected animal species such as Orang-utans, Bekantan apes (Nasalis
larvatus) and Honey bears.
3. these IPK concessionaries have also now been implicated as major
initiators of the recent forest fires.
4. logging operations and forest fires have driven animals such as
Orang-utans and Long-nose apes (Bekantan) from their ever decreasing
habitats. They enter village settlements and cause damage to gardens,
which in turn leads to their capture and extermination.
5. human population control and the designation of areas for
conservation seem to be regarded as problems for the future only, even
though the urgency for immediate action has become ever stronger.
For some years a "logging-migration" of people from neighbouring South
Kalimantan province and Java, has posed another threat to the forests
as illegal logging has become an "acceptable activity" while the
forests are regarded as a "no-man's land", especially since forest
management has been handed over to the IPK-holders. We are worried
about the impact upon the forests of the coming transmigration
programmes to the mega project areas and doubt that any of the present
forest can be conserved if these go ahead.
Fromour investigations, we conclude that a situation of "free-
logging" has been taking place for some years, instigated by IPK-
holders and using former transmigrants and local Dayaks who have
become more marginalized. All of this will jeopardise your policy for
sustainable forest management and the future implementation of
wildlife conservation and protection. Added to the effects of this
situation, the current forest fires have not only disturbed and
ravaged the forests, but have also drastically and irreversibly
decreased nature.
We are still convinced, however, that sustainability, as has often
been stated by government officials, will be the key word for the
Government of Indonesia and that nature conservation will be given
appropriate attention throughout the country.
With regard to the Mega rice project we therefore, respectfully, bring
to your attention some proposals or suggestions which could lead to a
"win-win situation" both for the economic and social position of the
people involved, and for nature.
First of all, we suggest, that in the light of the recent forest
fires, the Indonesian Government seriously consider abandoning the
Mega-Rice project altogether and look for other suitable areas. It
might very well be that, after a complete picture of the effects of
the fires has been established, other areas previously considered
unsuitable will have altered so drastically that they might now serve
as alternatives in the form of smaller scale schemes.
Learning from the previous approach to the Mega-Rice project, we would
now like to stress that search for alternative areas should be
conducted carefully, taking into account the balance between
development and nature conservation.
Secondly, if this proves not to be a solution we urge you to use your
power and influence to issue a decree, as a matter of urgency, which
will authorise and legalize the establishment of conservation areas
within and around the Mega-Rice Project. This decree should be made as
soon as possible both in order to stop the activities described above
and to prevent further mass cruelty to animals by mankind on
Indonesian soil. The urgency of this decree is warranted by the fact
that, as a consequence of the fires, Indonesia's nature has been
devastated and will take a long time to recover, if at all. This is in
the interest of people as well nature itself.
For our part, we will be glad to offer you any support we can to
assist the implementation of the above mentioned requests. Examples of
this could be: the organisation of a conference to be held in your
country where both Indonesian and international experts could give
their opinion and advice on how to foster an integrated land
management scheme in Central Kalimantan, in which all positive
environmental, social and economic factors could be combined into a
really effective sustainable management of the region.
Other practical examples of how we might try to assist you are: the
establishment of an ecological planning institute consisting of
Indonesian and international experts, the establishment of a natural
peat research centre, nature reserves, rehabilitation programs and
stations for animals where they can be prepared for reintroduction
into the wild.
Despite the negative effects of past exploitation and the recent
devastation caused by forest fires, we are convinced, that with good
intentions and timely actions from all concerned parties, the
ecological, social and economic value of this region can be retained
for future generations.
Your sincerely,
Hemmo Muntingh
Director Special Projects, IFAW
Honorary Member of the European Parliament
Founder, Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced
Environment (GLOBE)