COALITION TO SAVE INDONESIA S SMALL ISLANDS

Transcription

1 COALITION TO SAVE INDONESIA S SMALL ISLANDS Briefing Paper The Crisis of Forest Ecosystems in Indonesia s Small Islands Important Task for Indonesian President Joko Widodo A. Introduction Indonesia is an archipelago nation with more than 13,466 islands. 1 This places Indonesia as the largest archipelago country in the world. Referring to Law no. 27 of 2007, islands smaller than 2,000 km 2 are classified as small islands. Based on existing regulations, 80% or approximately 10,000 islands in Indonesia are categorized as small islands. The following is a comparison between the numbers of large and small islands in six provinces in Indonesia (Figure 1). 2 Figure 1. Comparison between number of large and small islands in 6 provinces Small Island Large Island West Sumatera Central Sulawesi West Papua Nort Maluku Maluku Riau Archipelago Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) looked at these six provinces and saw that 14% or 3.5 million hectares of the terrestrial areas in these provinces are located in small islands. Moreover, in Riau Islands Province, 100% or 900 million hectares of the province area are small islands. The areas above are only those recorded in FWI s assessment. Based on the current geographic conditions, there are certainly more small islands in these six provinces as well as throughout Indonesia. With Indonesia s status as an archipelago nation, it is only appropriate that its national development concept should be based on the country s geographical conditions. Figure 2. Comparison of areas of large islands and small islands 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 5% 7% 5% 95% 93% 95% 19% 27% 81% 73% 100% West Sumatera Central Sulawesi West Papua Nort Maluku Maluku Riau Archipelago Small Island Large Island 1 Geospatial Information Agency From buah. Accessed on 6 March Ministry of Home Affairs, Indonesia. From Accessed on 11 March March 2015 Page 1

2 President Joko Widodo s agenda known as NAWACITA includes an objective to return Indonesia to its state of glory as a maritime nation. This surely requires a reversal of the current development concept. Development that focuses on large islands is believed to be neglecting smaller islands. This results in the small islands being regarded as a granary of natural resources to be exploited for large island development interests. One aspect that must be appreciated from the NAWACITA concept is the idea of developing Indonesia from the periphery. This impact of this idea will be felt in small islands, especially those Indonesia s outermost islands. Natural resources utilization and development in small islands must take the island s natural resources conservation into consideration. Rampant exploitation in small islands has degraded many small islands, even causing a number to sink. In 2011, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MoMAF) stated that Indonesia has lost 28 small islands, and 24 other are vulnerable to sinking. Another fact is presented in the Maplecroft's Climate Change Vulnerability Index released by the international agency Maplecroft. In their report, Maplecroft stated that 1,500 Indonesian islands will sink by The primary cause of this is sand quarrying and coastal abrasion due to rising sea level. 4 The lack of attention given to small island development has resulted in the rising of illegal as well as legal exploitative activities that can threaten small islands ecological systems. Natural resources exploitation in small islands clearly threatens the sustainability of Indonesia s small islands.. Forests in small islands do not contribute much to the total natural forest area in Indonesia. However, they are no less important in protecting Indonesia s sovereignty as an archipelago nation. The existence of forests in small islands is critical in adapting and mitigating climate change and rising sea level. If these small islands natural forests disappear, then it is highly likely that more than 1,500 islands will sink by Forest degradation in small islands is inseparable from land-based investments such as timber concessions, industrial forest plantations, plantations, and mining. In its study in the aforementioned six provinces that comprise numerous small islands, FWI recorded 2 timber concessions, 2 industrial forest plantations, 4 plantations, and 227 mining concessions. These 235 concessions manage 673, hectares or 18% of the total small islands area in these six provinces. The lack of attention and tangible actions in protecting the forests of these small islands will create a negative impact for the community. Degradation of small islands forests will eliminate community livelihood. There will be no more life if these small inhabited islands sink. Relocation of communities in vulnerable areas is not the solution. Forests in small islands must be protected so as not to remove community s rights to natural resources. The Indigenous People s Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) states that there are 30 million indigenous peoples along the coasts and in small islands, including 10 million indigenous peoples living in Indonesia s small islands. B. Function of Natural Forests in Small Islands Natural forests in small islands are a critical part in maintaining ecological systems in archipelagos. In addition to maintaining ecological systems, natural forests in small islands also play a critical role in maintaining livelihood supporting systems. Forests in small islands are regarded as very important to communities. The tangible functions experienced from existence of forests in small islands are the following. 3 From Accessed on 6 March Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. From Accessed on 6 March March 2015 Page 2

3 1. Protect Hydrological System Almost everyone knows that forests are vital in protecting the hydrological cycle of a region. However, this knowledge does not necessarily mean that people are aware that forest protection in small islands must receive greater attention. The presence of forests in small islands is critical in relation to the island s water catchment. Small water catchments require the role of forests to contain the limited freshwater available in small islands. Smaller water catchments require forests to contain the already limited freshwater in these small islands. The risk of the loss of water sources due to forest degradation in small islands is clearly higher in small islands compared to other relatively larger areas. 2. Prevent Seawater Intrusion Seawater intrusion is one of the largest threats to freshwater quality that has provided for coastal and small island communities. Natural forests and mangroves in small islands are important ecosystems that can hold off seawater intrusion. Natural forests in small islands can protect underground water sources even during dry seasons. Underground water that is protected by these small islands forests can help prevent seawater from seeping inland in these small islands. 3. Protect Economic Sources for Communities Forests in small islands are an important ecosystem in protecting and increasing economic sources for communities. The majority of communities in small islands are coastal communities who greatly depend on marine and coastal resources. Many people do not realize that coastal and marine area sustainability also depends on the forests of the island. As opposed to large islands, the impact of forest degradation in small islands will be immensely felt in surrounding coastal and marine environments. Forest degradation in small islands will increase erosion rate and lead to detrimental impacts on the coral reef ecosystem. 4. Disaster Mitigation Small islands are vulnerable to natural disasters. One disaster that clearly threatens small islands is the threat of tsunami. This threat is imminent for islands located in open waters and along tectonic plate boundaries. Natural forests, especially mangrove ecosystems are natural fortresses that can protect communities from these threats. In addition to mangrove ecosystems, natural forests in in small islands also play an important role in protecting against ocean winds and storms, especially in small islands located in island chains and open seas. 5. Protect Island Ecosystems Reforestation in small islands will be more challenging than restoration in larger islands. Forests in small islands are an ecosystem with much slower development due to the effects of seawater and salinity that inhibit vegetation evapotranspiration. Many small islands formed by rising karst rocks, and therefore it would take much time to restore the island s ecosystem balance. Small islands also have relatively lower diversity compared to that of larger islands, though the former usually have greater endemicity than the latter. This is because small islands are ecosystem units that have been fragmented from main islands from the biodiversity standpoint. Small islands are closely related to one another, especially those in an archipelago. Ecosystem degradation in one island will impact other islands. One example is island reclamation or dredging which impacts the area s seawater current. In addition, the degradation of island marine ecosystem will affect marine resource supply of that particular island as well as surrounding islands (such as the supply of ocean fish). Small islands are often utilized by migrant birds as stopover habitats, and forest degradation in these islands will affect the birds migratory routes. March 2015 Page 3

4 C. Lessons from Two Island Groups in Indonesia Data on forests in small islands are important to better understand government s role especially that of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) in ensuring forest resources conservation in small islands. FWI s study in comparing the conditions of two island groups shows forest conditions in these two island groups. Table 1. Comparison of Forest Condition in Two Small Islands Groups in Indonesia Riau Islands Province Aru Islands District Total land area 1,263,005 Ha 780,000 Ha Estimated number of islands Total land cover 264,086 Ha 730,000 Ha Forest cover (%) in % 83% Forest management MoEF, Ministry of Energy Indigenous communities and Mineral Resources Percentage of Forest Area 847,255 Ha (67%) 776,097 Ha (99%) Riau Islands is the only province in Indonesia that comprises entirely of small islands (<2,000 km 2 ). On the other hand, Aru is a district with the most small islands and only one island is classified as a large island (Trangan Island measuring 2,300 km 2 ). Based on current regulations, both island groups are located within forest areas. Based on this status, these two islands are managed by MoEF. Facts indicate that rampant mining in Riau Islands Province influence forests in the area (Table 2). Forest area management carried out by MoEF actually became the primary cause of forest area loss in small islands in Riau Islands Province due to the issuance of mining licenses. This is a contrast to the islands in Aru Islands District. Lack of activities from MoEF in Aru Islands District has allowed the forests in the areas to remain untouched and pristine. In addition, the indigenous people in Aru Islands are proven to be capable of protecting natural forests in Aru s small islands. In regard to policies, MoEF has issued land-based investment licenses in Aru Islands. However, people s power in maintaining natural forest in these areas has stopped forest resource exploitation activities in small islands. 5 Figure 3. Comparison of Forest Area Functions in Two Island Groups 9% 4% 71% 20% 54% 42% Aru Islands Riau Islands Convertible Production Forest Production Forest Protected & Conservation Forest From the diagram above, it is clear that forest area gazettement as established by MoEF in these two island groups in fact provide opportunities for land-based investment activities in small islands. Area 5 FWI Lembar Fakta: Hutan Terakhir di Pulau-Pulau Kecil Indonesia. Studi Kasus Eksploitasi Pulau-Pulau Kecil Kepulauan Aru March 2015 Page 4

5 function gazettement by MoEF has proven to neglect forest sustainability in small islands. Government issued regulations such as Law no. 27 of 2007 and Law no. 1 of 2014 concerning coastal and small island management are proven to lack legal authority to protect forests in small islands. D. Small Islands Management The various issues and experiences indicate the government s inability, especially MoEF, at the time to manage forests in small islands. For five months since Joko Widodo was inaugurated as president, the Coalition has observed the many efforts undertaken, such as merging of Ministries of Forestry and Environment, merging of REDD+ National Agency and the National Council of Climate Change with MoEF, marine area surveillance and protection of Indonesian waters, and ground visit to several provinces. These efforts are deemed insufficient to respond to the issues faced by small islands. The role of MoEF is not significantly apparent, while MoMAF is somewhat limited in accessing areas that are mostly forests. Figure 4. Facts on Small Islands Management in Indonesia Marine Affairs and Fisheries Environment and Forestry Marine protection (coral reef, illegal fishing, etc.) Mangrove and coastal management and protection Forest management in small islands (production forest, protected forest, conservation forest, borrow-to-use license, and forest area release) From the illustration above, it is clear that MoEF has a greater role in managing forests in small islands. MoMAF itself manages marine natural resources. For terrestrial areas, MoMAF s programs are targeted at coastal and mangrove ecosystems, and must synergize with MoEF s programs. Small islands forest management by MoEF tends to turn natural forests in small islands into centers of natural resources exploitation, especially mining. FWI s assessment in the aforementioned six provinces indicates there are 530, hectares mining concession in small islands. The greatest number of mining licenses is in Riau Islands Province (Table 2). Mining activities in small islands are becoming more rampant which is evident in the numerous mining licenses issued in Indonesia s small islands. Table 2. Number and areas of mining licenses in six provinces in Indonesia 6. Number of Total Mining No. of Small Islands Province Mining Licenses Concession Areas (Ha) Mining Concessions Mining Concession Areas in Small Islands (Ha) W Sumatra , C Sulawesi , ,207 W Papua 68 2,583, ,280 N Maluku 143 1,128, ,836 Maluku , ,981 Riau Islands , ,624 TOTAL 858 5,512, ,927 6 FWI State Of Forest Report. Bogor. West Java March 2015 Page 5

6 E. CSOs Common Platform Due to the rampant natural resources exploitation in small islands, civil society organizations (CSO) play an active role in monitoring providing corrective inputs for the government to create fair, sustainable, and continuous forest management. CSOs have a great opportunity aspiration by Joko Widodo s election as Indonesian President, the desire to restore the national pride as an archipelago nation, develop the maritime axis as initiated by the President is expected to be a form of the government s presence in protecting small islands. Seeing the current political condition, the Government should not lose its focus in implementing its agenda to improve forest governance. The following are several points that the Government must implement as recommendations for small islands management in Indonesia to protect forests in small islands: 1. Review licenses that exploit small islands and ensure that law is enforced. 2. Implement the mandate of Law no. 1 of 2014 concerning coastal and small islands management. 3. Stop issuance and extension of licenses for timber concession, industrial timber plantations, plantations, and mining in small islands. 4. Especially for small islands that are indigenous territories, the government must immediately map indigenous territories involving the area s indigenous communities. 5. Review the status of forest area functions in small islands in Indonesia. 6. Acknowledge and protect the rights of indigenous and local communities, especially those directly related to forest management in small islands. 7. Resolve all conflicts caused by lack of clarity in indigenous/local community governance. 8. Synergize forest area functions with marine zoning plans between MoEF and MoMAF. 9. Transfer the management of several potential areas in aquatic and marine habitat protection from MoEF to MoMAF. 10. Undertake corrective actions by implementing Good Forest Governance principles by ensuring Transparency, Participation, Coordination, and Accountability in small island management in Indonesia. It is critical for the government to implement recommendations above to ensure forest conservation in small islands. In addition, these recommendations are part of the tasks, functions, and mandates of the government as public servants to protect the people s sovereignty. [End] 1. FWI (Forest Watch Indonesia) 2. AMAN (Indigenous People s Alliance of the Archipelago) Central Governing Body 3. SAVE Aru 4. YCM (Yayasan Citra Mandiri Mentawai) 5. AMAN Maluku Local Chapter 6. AMAN Central Sulawesi Local Chapter 7. AMAN Aru Islands Local Chapter 8. AMAN Sorong Raya Local Chapter 9. INFIS (Indonesia Nature Film Society) March 2015 Page 6