Noer Fauzi Rachman

Portrait Power Behind Ecosystem Crisis

Kompas January 13, 2018“Book Review: Portrait of Power Behind Ecosystem Crisis”.

Author: Hariadi Kartodihardjo

Book Title: Behind the Ecosystem Crisis: Thoughts on Forestry and Environmental Issues

Publisher: Pustaka LP3ES and Yayasan Kehati

Number of Pages: 504 pages + illustrations and tables

The important point that Hariadi Kartodihardjo wants to convey in this book is that “behind the ecosystem crisis is a crisis of thinking and acting.” Therefore, policymakers are advised to become serious learners with the basic approach that “learning has to start with unlearning.”

In studying the ecosystem crisis, learning is not just about increasing the amount of information, data, and knowledge, but also about reflecting, self-criticism, and reconstructing ways of thinking and acting. Otherwise, every policy reform effort will be trial and error and trapped in becoming a complicating factor.

The anthology of writings from the forestry policy professor at IPB guides readers to explore the interests, powers, and thoughts behind the stages that create and perpetuate the ecosystem crisis. This book presents a wealth of data, sharp analysis, and a thread of reflections on interests, powers, and thoughts behind the ecosystem crisis. For example, in the section on Forestry Agrarian (pages 50-69).

The root of the problem is not only about the content of licensing regulations that determine the authority to provide recommendations. It is also related to the issue of broad discretion and opaque regulatory implementation mechanisms, vulnerable to abuse, corruption, as well as access and privileges for a handful of elites. This situation discriminates against the public, especially those with weak economic and social-political positions. The concentration of natural resource control is more enjoyed by private parties through permits granted by the government. This includes permits for converting forest areas for plantation purposes or permits to use state forest areas for mining.

Furthermore, Kartodiharjo reveals that behind the ecosystem crisis lies a chaotic way of thinking and acting in the management of forestry agrarian issues. For instance, the illegitimate status of state forests. Constitutional Court Decisions No. 45/PUU-IX/2011 and No. 35/PUU-X/2012 show that regulations regarding people’s agrarian rights in Law No. 41/1999 on Forestry violate the constitutional rights of the people to guarantee land ownership rights. What is termed as “state capture” occurs here, where the people’s land is declared as state land and forests.

Land grabbing can occur when the government, or companies receiving permits from the government, forcibly sever the people’s ownership connection to their land. Conflicts arise when the people defend their homeland and engage in continuous resistance.

The problem is how the government can implement the Constitutional Court decisions and carry out the administration of protecting and recognizing people’s land ownership rights. Here, another root problem arises, namely institutional habits: administration and performance measures in forest area confirmation based on kilometer boundaries, and budget absorption. It is almost certain that the implementation of state forest confirmation only produces physical boundaries that do not pay much attention to claims over state forests (page 57).

Economic-Political Dimension

This book is special. Not only because of its rich data and profound analysis, but also for conveying reflective messages worth paying attention to.