Forests for the Future Indigenous Forest Managem

ent in a Changing W

orld

Indonesia’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’ 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. Editors :

Emilianus Ola KledenLiz ChidleyYuyun Indradi

Forests for the FutureIndigenous Forest Management in a Changing World

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 PeranginanginCover: Yuyun Indradi

Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the ArchipelagoJl. Tebet Utara II No. 22 C Jakarta – Indonesia

Telp/Fax: 021 – 8297954 Email: rumahaman@cbn.net.id

Web : www.aman.or.id

Down to EarthGreenside Farmhouse, Hallbankgate

Cumbria CA8 2PX EnglandTel/fax +44 (0) 16977 46266

Email: dte@gn.apc.orgWeb: http://dte.gn.apc.org

FORESTS FOR THE FUTUREIndigenous 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

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We 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). AMAN-DTE’s joint worker was supported by CAFOD during 2005 and 2006.

II

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PREFACE�

The 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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Chapter �: Introduction �

Chapter 2: Methodology 9

Chapter 3: The Ciptagelar Kasepuhan Indigenous Community, West JavaDeveloping a bargaining position over customary forestKi Ugis Suganda

27

Chapter 4: The Guguk Indigenous Community, Jambi Protecting customary forests with local regulationsDatuk H. Abubakar

63

Chapter 5: The Kiyu Dayak Indigenous Community, Meratus, South KalimantanStrengthening alliances to campaign for forest protectionAndy Syahruji (team leader), Balai Kiyu

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Chapter 6: The Sembalun Indigenous Community, LombokBuilding consensus to save adat forest on Mount SelongAbdulrahman Sembahulun and Y. L. Franky

�43

Chapter 7: The Indigenous Ngata Toro Community, Central Sulawesi Reforming Adat to promote environmental, economic and cultural sustainabilityRizal Mahfud and Rukmini Paata Toheke

�79

Chapter 8: Tana Ai Indigenous Communities, East Flores Maintaining traditional culture as a way of protecting the environmentMurray Muhammad H. Basyir

225

Chapter 9: An Indonesian OverviewIndigenous Peoples’ Writing on Forest Management:A Counter Discourse?Suraya Afiff

263

Chapter �0: An International OverviewIndigenous Natural Resource Management Systems at the CrossroadsChip Fay

277

Chapter ��: ConclusionsCommunities in TransformationEmil Kleden

297

CONTENTSAcknowledgements I

Preface III

Map of sites V

Glossary VII

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GLOSSARYAdat Customary practices, beliefs, values and/or lawsADB Asian Development BankAMAN Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the ArchipelagoAMDAL Environmental Impact AssessmentBPN National Land AgencyBupati Regent/district administrative headCBFM Community-based forest managementCBNRM Community-based natural resource managementCSO Civil society organisationDepHut Forestry department/Ministry of ForestryDesa Village (Government administrative unit)Dinas Local government officeDinas Kehutanan Local forestry serviceDPR ParliamentDPRD Regional Representative Assembly DTE Down to EarthEIA Environmental Impact AssessmentFPIC Free, prior, informed consentGG Dutch colonial term for State land Gotong Royong Community self-helpha hectareHGU Land use rights given to companyHPH Logging concessionHTI Industrial timber plantationHukum positip Formal legislationHukum adat Customary lawIPK Permit for forest conversionIPO Indigenous peoples’ organisationIUPHHK Permit for selective loggingKabupaten DistrictKecamatan SubdistrictKepala adat Customary leader

VII

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Kepala desa Village leader/officialKPH Forest management unitMasyarakat adat Indigenous people(s)/communityMusyarawah Discussion leading to consensusNGO Non-government organisationNTFP Non-timber forest productPemda Local governmentPerda Local regulation/by lawPP Implementing regulationPT Private companyRumah adat Traditional house/village hallRupiah Indonesian unit of currencySIM Land use permitSK Official written decisionSPPT Proof of tax payment for land useTanah adat Customary landUU Law/ActVOC Dutch East Indies Company

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Yuyun Indradi [DT

E]