Institutionalization of conflict capability in the management of natural resources : theoretical perspectives and empirical experience in Indonesia
Year: 2007
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Although I was brought up in Sumatra where one of the most pristine tropical forests is situated, my first experience working in the forest only began in 1996 when I did my field practical for my first degree at Bogor Agricultural University.I spent two months with a timber company in central Sumatran forest, with the intention to learn how sustainable forest management (SFM) is carried out by a particular forest concession holder.I knew from the classroom that in Indonesia, logging was regulated by a so-called "selective cutting and replanting system".In principle this system required every concession holder to carry out logging in accordance with sustainable guidelines.Community development was part of the obligation of concession holders in which they were required to help local communities in improving their economy, developing village infrastructure and providing opportunities for employment.With all this knowledge, I was eager to see how things worked in the field.Upon my arrival at the company's base camp deep inside the forest, I started to realize that regulations were not always followed.The company had many "dirty tricks" including bribing local forest officers such as to allow its non-sustainably logged timber to be sold on timber markets.Non-compliance with rules and regulations was not a problem as it could always be compensated by providing forestry officers with some kind of "gift".I started to realize how prominent role of corruption really was in the timber business.As a young forester, I was frustrated.For me, what appeared to be most striking was the way the company dealt with local communities.In that area local communities collected latex from a particular tree species called jelutung (Dyera costulata) in order to gain a cash income.This practice had been going on for years and I was even informed that prior to logging operation such activities were being carried out.Sadly, in many occasions they were not allowed to enter the forest.They had to stop collecting this latex in the area that was being logged by the company.Moreover, many jelutung trees were cut down and destroyed as a result of heavy machinery logging.The income of local communities was inevitably badly affected.Conflict was a logical consequence.Local communities demanded some compensation from the company.However, at that time such kind of conflict was solved through a military approach.Local communities were confronted with the military that backed the timber company and in the end they could not do much.Opposition to logging was "dangerous" under Soeharto era.After returning to Bogor, I started to realize that there was a big social v issue associated with logging operation in Indonesia -at least my short experience in Sumatra suggested this.After graduating from the university in early 1998, I worked for the Center of International Forestry Research (CIFOR).I was involved in a number of field tests of SFM criteria and indicators in a number of places in Indonesia.Again, I was confronted by the fact that many concession holders failed to fulfill the minimum required standard for socio-political criteria and indicators.The most notable failure could be attributed to the various social conflicts between logging concessions and the surrounding local communities.These conflicts involved diverse issues including unclear boundary definitions between communal forest and concession area, river pollution due to logging activities, broken promises, etc.At that point, my interest in studying conflict in NRM became even greater than before.I was lucky to get an opportunity to purse an MSc degree at Wageningen University in 2000 and I chose conflict in the co-management of forests as a central theme in my thesis.I went to East Kalimantan for three months to study conflicts between local communities and a logging company, and also between local communities and mining companies.The latter conflict was very intense with a lot of protests and intimidations.Reflecting on the results that I gathered during my fieldwork, I realized that most of the time NRM conflict in Indonesia was not addressed constructively.I noticed that actors involved in conflict found themselves very helpless.They had little capacity to address the conflict.It became clear to me that in the case of local communities vs. the mining company conflict, the use of force was very prominent.As a result, high escalation of the conflict was unavoidable.I also learned that there was little -if any -opportunity that allowed for constructive negotiation to take place.In many NRM conflict situations, stakeholders often find themselves in a deadlock, not knowing how to involve in constructive processes to find a solution.I was so grateful that I could continue my scientific interest and build up from my previous experience for this PhD.As the book will reveal, I specifically focus on conflict capability, i.e. how stakeholders can develop and institutionalize their capacities to cope with NRM conflict constructively.My exploration on conflict capability in NRM has been extremely enjoyable, particularly as it was full of assistances and encouragements from many individuals and organizations, which I sincerely value.
DOI: 10.18174/27279
Author: Y. Yasmi
Institution: Wageningen University & Research
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W1525782884