Natural Resource Management: Historical Lessons from Indonesia

Abstract

This paper uses a variety of historical evidence from Indonesia to explore the conditions for sustainable management of natural resources. In the agricultural sphere, history gives reason for optimism regarding the ability of individuals to conserve and improve soil resources on an uncoordinated, anarchic basis under systems of intensive smallholder farming and agroforestry. It also suggests that this ability may be enhanced, rather than eroded, both by population growth and by the commercialization of agriculture. When it comes to the management of forests and fisheries and the conservation of nature, by contrast, there is less reason for optimism. If sustainable solutions are to be found in these spheres, the historical evidence suggests that they will involve political hierarchy, and will depend on the honouring of a social contract in which the state serves the public interest while retaining the powers of coercion which it needs in order to do just that.

Claiming the forest: Inclusions and exclusions under Indonesia's ‘new’ forest policies on customary forests

“…Although often interpreted as such, it is erroneous to assume that customary means communal, and it cannot be equated with concepts of equality. Historically, Indonesia's access to natural resources has been managed by elites built on social contracts between rulers and subjects with varying results for the protection of forests (Thoms 2008;Henley 2007). This means that divergent interests are at stake and that priorities may serve to increase inequality and environmental degradation within hutan adat.…”

“…We deliberately take a broader focus than customary users alone, as many of the contestations revealed in this review are not from customary users, but local communities more generally. We also acknowledge that the term adat is increasingly politically charged and provides the illusion that it somehow represents all customary communities in Indonesia, when actual claims and interests of these communities can be themselves divergent and conflicting (Henley 2007;Bettinger, Fisher, and Miles 2014).…”

Facilitating resolution of forest conflicts through understanding the complexity of the relationship between forest industry and environmental groups

“…Both claim to be acting within the confines of the law, but are criticised by ENGOs for acting immorally. The situation in Indonesia becomes murkier with the role that the Indonesian State plays, though to a lesser extent now as in the past, as a driver of deforestation, including because of corruption (Tacconi et al 2004, Henley 2008, and policies that actually deter sustainable forest management practices (Jurgens 2006, Raitzer 2008). …”

“…One could view this as an extension of the political process model, where the political environment encourages action by ENGOs, though this time targeting both the political and corporate regimes. For example, the Indonesian State has been deeply implicated in deforestation in the country (Tacconi et al 2004, Jurgens 2006, Henley 2008, along with the pulp and paper and oil palm industries, hence the numerous campaigns by various national and international ENGOs targeting those industries, as well as the government.…”

Reflection on Peat Swamp Fires in Indonesia

“…It is mean that they vision has congruent with global vision on environment. Culturally, the Indonesian society is part of the Eastern culture that emphasizes harmonious principle within human-environment relationship [7]. This principle is the ethics foundation that could be found in customary law in Indonesia, for example, forbidden forest [8], sasi custom [9], taboo [10], human-plants relationships [11], or human-animal relationship [12].…”