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Forest conservation: Facing clear and present danger
The true keepers of the forest are the indigenous communities that had long been unrecognized in the social and forestry policies of previous governments.
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Burning peatland is seen in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. Uncontrolled peat fires can spread for kilometers underground and by air, causing a deadly smog. In 2015, this resulted in one of the greatest environmental disasters of the 21st century. (JP/Björn Vaughn)
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ndonesia frequently faces criticism from domestic politicians as well as ASEAN countries for failing to control its forest fires and the resulting smog, which the media calls “haze.”
The 2015 fires were the worst, costing an estimated Rp 220 trillion (US$16.5 billion) in economic losses, or 1.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), as well as causing long-term public health hazards.
The main source of the annual disaster is the ruthless large-scale drying of peatlands by plantation companies, as proven by World Bank scientists and international observers.
Facing a major security risk, the government of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo chose the correct policies in its very first year. The government assumed a firm stance on burning. Despite poor coordination at the provincial and sub-provincial levels, this resulted in fewer fires in 2016 and 2017.
This has not been fully appreciated by the media, who see the recalcitrance of palm oil and paper companies as a sign of government weakness. Actually, the government has a careful strategy of “drawing a line in the sand” while applying pressure on big businesses responsible for continued violations of pro-conservation policies. Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP), a major company that routinely converts forests to plantations in Riau, typifies big business resistance to pro-forest regulations.
When President Jokowi paid a visit to United States president Obama in spring 2015 to discuss a common strategy for the COP 21 planned for December in Paris, media coverage of the meeting was overshadowed by reports of catastrophic forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
These are often presented to emphasize the inefficacy of the government in a classic generalization based on past performance.
