Forests for the Future

‘Forests for the Future’ is intended to increase
awareness about the sustainability of indigenous
forest management. This publication focuses
on six case studies from different parts of the
Indonesian archipelago written by indigenous
peoples themselves. These show that forest
communities have retained a wealth of skills and
knowledge. They also illustrate the importance
of adat in decision-making about the use of land
and natural resources.
This book presents lessons learned from
communities who are striving to meet the
economic and political challenges facing their
forest resources and ways of life. It offers national
and international policy makers models of
sustainable forest management. It also represents
a powerful argument for policy reform in favour
of indigenous communities and forest protection
at both national and international levels.
Forests for the Future Indigenous Forest Management in a Changing World
I
ndonesia’s forests, the third largest in
the world, are rapidly disappearing due
to destructive logging, forest fires, the
expansion of large-scale plantations and
agriculture encroachment. At national and
local levels, indigenous people have often been
blamed as the agents of forest degradation and
destruction. However, Indonesia’s forest peoples
tell a very different story: they are experts in
forest management.
Forests for the Future
Indigenous Forest Management in a Changing World
Editors :
Emilianus Ola Kleden
Liz Chidley
Yuyun Indradi
Forests for the Future: Indigenous forest management in a changing
world, AMAN-DTE, editors Emil Kleden, Yuyun Indradi and Liz Chidley, 2009
Copyright AMAN & DTE. All rights reserved. Sections of this book may be
copied provided acknowledgement is made to the author of the chapter, the
editors and to AMAN and Down to Earth.
Design and Layout: Jopi Peranginangin
Cover: Yuyun Indradi
Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago
Jl. Tebet Utara II No. 22 C Jakarta – Indonesia
Telp/Fax: 021 – 8297954
Email: rumahaman@cbn.net.id
Web : www.aman.or.id
Down to Earth
Greenside Farmhouse, Hallbankgate
Cumbria CA8 2PX England
Tel/fax +44 (0) 16977 46266
Email: dte@gn.apc.org
Web: http://dte.gn.apc.org
FORESTS FOR THE FUTURE
Indigenous forest management in a changing world
FORESTS FOR THE FUTURE
Indigenous forest management in a changing world
The Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago
and
Down to Earth
Editors:
Emilianus Ola Kleden
Yuyun Indradi
Liz Chidley
April 2009
FORESTS FOR THE FUTURE
Indigenous forest management in a changing world
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
W
e would like to express our gratitude to the following
individuals and communities who shared their time,
information and thoughts so generously with us for the case
studies: Ki Ugis Suganda, Abah Anom, Koncara and the community of
Kasepuhan Ciptagelar, Sirnaresmi, Sukabumi, West Java; Nursewan,
Basuni and Kawi from Batu Kambar, Hinas Kiri; Mido Basmi, Maliburan,
Misu and Dadang from Datar Ajab; Zonson Masrie from Hantakan;
Andi Syahruji and Makorban from Kiyu; Pinan from Juhu, Hulu
Sungai Tengah, South Kalimantan; Datuk Haji Abubakar, Datuk Zen,
Datuk Abbas, Usman, Ichsan SH, Mahmud Rasali, Abusama and Sapri,
Desa Guguk, Merangin, Jambi; Rizal, Rukmini, CH Towaha, Pendeta
Ferdi, Naftali Porentjo and Silas, Toro, Donggala, Central Sulawesi;
Haji Abdulrahman, Sudirman and Ketul Brekele, Sembalun, Rinjani,
Lombok Barat, West Nusa Tenggara; Murray Muhammad H. Basyir;
Petrus and Bernardus, Hikong-Boru Kedang dan Utang Wair,
Likonggete, Sika, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.
The following communities and local indigenous organisations (AMAs)
have also helped our work: Nur Jafar and the community of Simpang
Tungkal, Musi Banyuasin; the community of Tanjung Beringin, Serelo,
Lahat; and the community of Lore Lindu, Central Sulawesi; OPANT
(Organisasi Perempuan Adat Ngata Toro) Kulawi, Central Sulawesi;
PERMASS (Persatuan Masyarakat Adat Sumatera Selatan); Paguyuban
Masyarakat Adat Pulau Jawa (PAMAPUJA); Aliansi Masyarakat Adat
Sulawesi Tengah (AMASUTA); ORMAF (Organisasi Masyarakat
Adat Flores); Forum Masyarakat Adat Mapi Tara, Maumere, Flores;
PERMADA (Persatuan Masyarakat Adat Dayak) South Kalimantan;
AMAL (Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Lombok); and AMA Jambi.
Thanks too to the organisations and individuals who helped with
the field visits: Erinaldi Ramli, Rakhmat Hidayat and Yusamir from
WARSI Jambi; RMI Bogor; Gono, Geboy and Aidil Fitri from Walhi
Sumatra Selatan; Yasir Al Fatah, Muhamad Saleh, Hamsuri, Rahmi and
Fitriansyah from LPMA (Lembaga Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Adat)
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South Kalimantan; Arianto Sangaji and the staff of Yayasan Tanah
Merdeka, Palu, Central Sulawesi; Samuel Sulu from JKPP Regio Nusa
Tenggara; and Romo Aloisius Ndate and Romo Piet Nong who serve
communities in Flores.
We would also like to thank all the other members of indigenous
communities in Indonesia who have added to our understanding.
Special thanks go to:
Abdon Nababan who initiated this project;
Chip Fay and Suraya Affif for writing the analysis chapters;
Yaffet Leonard Franky, who helped to research and edit the Lombok
case study;
Eva Castaner and Serge Marti who translated the case studies;
Sue Ellen O’Farrell for proofreading;
Hayu, Wisnu, Yoyon and other Forest Watch Indonesia friends for
helping out with the layout, including photos and redrawing maps.
The help of AMAN secretariat’s staff and DTE staff was much
appreciated.
This publication and the work preceding it were supported by a grant
from DFID’s Multi-stakeholder Forestry Programme (MFP). AMANDTE’s joint worker was supported by CAFOD during 2005 and 2006.
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II
FORESTS FOR THE FUTURE
Indigenous forest management in a changing world
PREFACE
T
he title of the Beatles’ song, ‘The Long and Winding Road’,
will always remind me of the process of writing this book.
This has been a long journey with many twists and turns. It
has taken more than two years to arrive at our intended destination.
These forest peoples’ stories, so rarely heard by the wider world, have
real significance. They relate the efforts of indigenous communities in
Indonesia to manage their natural resources sustainably – especially
their forests.
‘Forests for the Future’ is part of a joint programme between the
Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) and Down
to Earth (DTE). Although our organisations are based in two countries
with different cultures, on the opposite sides of the globe, we share the
same interest in and concerns about the fate of communities who are all
too often the victims of ‘development’: those indigenous peoples who
live in and around Indonesia’s forests.
The AMAN-DTE work has consisted of four elements: (i) publishing
‘Good News Stories’ about indigenous peoples’ management of natural
resources; (ii) translating international advocacy materials for use by
AMAN and information from AMAN for the international community;
(iii) joint campaigning on selected cases involving indigenous
communities in Indonesia; and (iv) facilitating AMAN’s participation
in international fora.
The past three years have seen a whole range of different achievements
in these four areas of our work together. The publication of this book is
only one of these.
The contents of ‘Forests for the Future’ are the product of field visits
carried out by AMAN and/or its members with local organisations. This
work involved visiting communities and gathering information through
Emil Kleden, Former Executive Secretary of AMAN
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interviews and written sources, then seeking out other documentary
evidence and supporting data. The selected communities were then
invited to write up their own case studies. These were clarified and
edited by the project co-ordinator, a member of the joint AMAN-DTE
programme who was accountable to both organisations. In this way,
both AMAN and Down to Earth share responsibility for all that is in
this book.
The case studies tell about the real experiences of indigenous
communities who live in the selected locations. They are not simply a
record of the past or dreams for the future. All these stories represent the
essence of what indigenous peoples are doing within their communities
to combat the powerful economic and political forces that threaten their
very existence. Their highest priority at this stage is not to accumulate
wealth but to survive and this fight for life means they must adopt
various strategies. Their resistance takes many different forms - from
instinctive reactions to well-planned, sophisticated initiatives – and
they have met with varying degrees of success.
It is here that the strategic importance of forming networks is so clearly
relevant – both within the indigenous movement in Indonesia and at
the international level. We need to work with people who share our
vision and employ approaches that complement each other. This book
and the other materials generated by this joint project are a step in that
direction.
Finally, on behalf of AMAN, I express my heartfelt thanks to all the
contributors to this book and everyone who has helped to support its
publication, including the funding agencies. My thanks also go to Down
to Earth for putting so much energy into the joint work with AMAN
with our respective strengths and weaknesses. We have learned to work
together and to stick together. Hopefully, this book will bring further
positive outcomes in the future. I hope you enjoy reading it.
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IV
Banda Aceh
Medan
Jambi
Pangkal Pinang
Palembang
Pontianak
Semarang
Samarinda
Balikpapan
Palu
5
Makassar
6
Kendari
Gorontalo
Manado
MAP OF SITES
3
Palangkaraya
Banjarmasin
Surabaya
4
Mataram
Denpasar
Kupang
Ternate
Ambon
100
0
N
100
200
300Miles
Jayapura
WEST PAPUA
6. Tana Ai, Flores, NTT
3. Meratus,
South Kalimantan
3. Meratus,
South Kalimantan 5. Toro,5.Central
Toro,Sulawesi
Central Sulawesi
6. Hikong-Boru Kedang, Flores, NTT
4. Sembalun, Lombok, NTB
4. Sembalun, Lombok, NTB
102
V
Pekanbaru
Padang
2
Bengkulu
Bandung
Tanjungkarang-Telukbetung
Jakarta
1
Java
Yogyakarta
1. 1.
Ciptagelar,
Kasepuhan,
West Java
Ciptagelar,
Kasepuhan,
West
2. Guguk, Jambi
2. Guguk, Jambi
FORESTS FOR THE FUTURE
Indigenous forest management in a changing world
101
CONTENTS
FORESTS FOR THE FUTURE
Indigenous forest management in a changing world
Acknowledgements
I
Preface
III
Map of sites
V
VII
Glossary Chapter 1:
Introduction
1
Chapter 2:
Methodology
9
Chapter 3:
The Ciptagelar Kasepuhan Indigenous Community, West Java
Developing a bargaining position over customary forest
Ki Ugis Suganda
27
Chapter 4:
The Guguk Indigenous Community, Jambi
Protecting customary forests with local regulations
Datuk H. Abubakar
63
Chapter 5:
The Kiyu Dayak Indigenous Community, Meratus, South
Kalimantan
Strengthening alliances to campaign for forest protection
Andy Syahruji (team leader), Balai Kiyu
101
Chapter 6:
The Sembalun Indigenous Community, Lombok
Building consensus to save adat forest on Mount Selong
Abdulrahman Sembahulun and Y. L. Franky
143
Chapter 7:
The Indigenous Ngata Toro Community, Central Sulawesi
Reforming Adat to promote environmental, economic and
cultural sustainability
Rizal Mahfud and Rukmini Paata Toheke
179
Chapter 8:
Tana Ai Indigenous Communities, East Flores
Maintaining traditional culture as a way of protecting the
environment
Murray Muhammad H. Basyir
225
Chapter 9:
An Indonesian Overview
Indigenous Peoples’ Writing on Forest Management:A
Counter Discourse?
Suraya Afiff
263
Chapter 10:
An International Overview
Indigenous Natural Resource Management Systems at the
Crossroads
Chip Fay
277
Chapter 11:
Conclusions
Communities in Transformation
Emil Kleden
297
102
GLOSSARY
Adat
ADB
AMAN
AMDAL
BPN
Bupati CBFM
CBNRM
CSO
DepHut
Desa
Dinas
Dinas Kehutanan
DPR
DPRD DTE
EIA
FPIC
GG
Gotong Royong
ha
HGU HPH
HTI
Hukum positip Hukum adat
IPK
IPO
IUPHHK
Kabupaten
Kecamatan
Kepala adat
101
Customary practices, beliefs, values and/or laws
Asian Development Bank
Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago
Environmental Impact Assessment
National Land Agency
Regent/district administrative head
Community-based forest management
Community-based natural resource management
Civil society organisation
Forestry department/Ministry of Forestry
Village (Government administrative unit)
Local government office
Local forestry service
Parliament
Regional Representative Assembly
Down to Earth
Environmental Impact Assessment
Free, prior, informed consent
Dutch colonial term for State land
Community self-help
hectare
Land use rights given to company
Logging concession
Industrial timber plantation
Formal legislation
Customary law
Permit for forest conversion
Indigenous peoples’ organisation
Permit for selective logging
District
Subdistrict
Customary leader
VII
FORESTS FOR THE FUTURE
Indigenous forest management in a changing world
Kepala desa
KPH
Masyarakat adat
Musyarawah
NGO
NTFP
Pemda
Perda
PP
PT
Rumah adat
Rupiah
SIM
SK
SPPT
Tanah adat
UU
VOC
Village leader/official
Forest management unit
Indigenous people(s)/community
Discussion leading to consensus
Non-government organisation
Non-timber forest product
Local government
Local regulation/by law
Implementing regulation
Private company
Traditional house/village hall
Indonesian unit of currency
Land use permit
Official written decision
Proof of tax payment for land use
Customary land
Law/Act
Dutch East Indies Company
VIII
102
Yuyun Indradi [DTE]
101