Environment Watch: Win-win solution sought to preserve forest

Villagers in Lampung have been cautious about roaming tigers at the bordering conservation park.

The residents live in Way Haru hamlet in Pengekahan village in Bengkunat-Belimbing district, located at the border with tiger conservation park, the Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation.

They fear the tigers, which have been released near their hamlet, would threaten their lives and hope the local authority seeks a solution to the issue that will be of mutual benefit.

Seven tigers from Aceh, Jambi and Bengkulu have been roaming the Tampang-Belimbing (Tambling) since their release in July 2008, with the latest one named Mekar, brought in from Bengkulu, on Aug. 28 this year.

Leader of the Lampung chapter Nusantara Traditional Communities Alliance (Aman), Ichwanto M. Nuh, said that the residents had initially insisted on opposing the conservation site but they gave in as the provincial administration vehemently supported the central government’s program.

Ichwanto ruled out the possibility for the residents to leave the Tambling to evade the danger, with many of them already living long before it was designated as the conservation park.

“The most logical thing to do in this situation is seek a win-win solution,” he said.

Representatives of the residents have met the conservation management several times to compromise.

“They agree the Belimbing traditional community will not be relocated. Now an agreement has to be sought to fulfill their rights. They demanded they be given the rights to manage the forest,” said Ichwanto.

He said the Belimbing traditional community has so far been supported by Aman and environmental groups to jointly manage and preserve the forest alongside the conservation site.

“The cooperation to reach a win-win solution is by implementing the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) scheme. The partnership could likely be realized since both residents and the park’s management has the same commitment — to save the forest and wildlife habitat in Tambling,” said Ichwanto.

He said the community’s involvement in managing natural resources in the park by implementing the REDD scheme may optimize collaboration between residents and the park because it would be beneficial for the ecosystem, people’s economy and social life.

“Informally, the park’s management has agreed. We are now arranging the agreement, legally,” said Ichwanto, also spokesman for the Belimbing community.

Based on Aman’s data, the Belimbing traditional community is known for its work in preserving the environment for hundreds of years in Tampang and Belimbing regions.

They have strict customary laws and impose stiff punishments on those who damage the environment.

Those who were caught felling a tree or killing a wild animal, for instance, would be required to grow dozens of trees of the same variety with that felled.

Offenders could also be banished from the community.

Representative of the conservation area’s management, Feishol Djausal, said that in principle, it was ready to work together with the residents as proven through its previous cooperation with the community, such as in providing health facilities.

Once the win-win solution is reached, the cooperation will become the first in history in the management and preservation of forest and wildlife in the country.

“We are looking forward to the best solution,” said Feishol.