The people of Bone Baru village in Indonesia have historically been farmers, but global demand for a small “ornamental” fish pushed them to go to sea.

In the 1990s, the Banggai cardinalfish became a must-have for aquariums in Indonesia and around the world, coveted for its pretty white spots over stripes of white, black and silver.

Demand grew for the fish, originally found only in some of the waters around the Banggai Islands of Central Sulawesi province where it is known as Capungan Banggai.

Saleh B. Lalu, who lives in Bone Baru, tells China Dialogue Ocean that local people took notice of the price traders were willing to pay.

“Compared to fish for consumption, the price for Banggai cardinalfish is high,” he says.

People used to working primarily as clove and coconut planters began catching cardinalfish to boost their income. Requests for the fish began to arrive daily and residents would catch extra to allow for deaths in transit and animals rejected by buyers. Increasing demand drove increasingly extreme methods: Saleh says villagers started to use bombs, and not just swimming masks and nets, to stun and catch the fish.

Things got so bad that the fish was listed as endangered in 2007, with the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) saying it believed 900,000 were being caught every year for the aquarium trade. Protection measures were brought in and wild catching plummeted. But fishing for aquariums has not disappeared in the region, and the fish is still listed as endangered by the IUCN.

Moving cardinalfish to new waters

Samliok Ndobe, a senior lecturer at the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Faculty of Tadulako University in Central Sulawesi, has been studying the aquarium trade around the Banggai Islands.

He says there has been no fishing for Banggai cardinalfish in their natural habitat in recent years.

But in a paper published earlier this year, he estimates that catching for the aquarium trade still generated nearly a fifth of the annual income of fishers in the Banggai archipelago. Targeted species include blue tang and yellow goby, which are exported around the world, bringing vital income to local people.

Samliok says that fishing for the Banggai cardinalfish still occurs in Indonesia but has shifted from its natural habitat to areas where it has been introduced by humans. This includes Manado of North Sulawesi, Kendari of Southeast Sulawesi, Palu of Central Sulawesi, Banyuwangi of East Java, and Bali. Here, fish that failed export screening have been released to form what the government calls “export delivery sites”.

“The location is around the harbours, where they shipped fish for export,” says Samliok.

He is concerned that the Banggai cardinalfish there may breed with other species, diluting their genetic uniqueness. “There will be [species] mixed and that is our concern.”

A Banggai cardinalfish in Secret Bay, Bali (Image: Christian Zappel / Alamy)

Continuing to catch the cardinalfish

While the new populations bring problems, they also provide new opportunities.

Catching of the Banggai cardinalfish has shifted to these new populations, which are harvested based on recommendations of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).

Sarminto Hadi is coordinator of area and fish species management at Indonesia’s fisheries ministry. Sarminto told China Dialogue Ocean that BRIN usually publishes the recommendations at the end of each year, before distributing them to permit holders the following year. “The quota will be done based on the population survey data and quota permit proposals from business.”

In 2024, Sarminto says BRIN decided a total of 38,000 Banggai cardinalfish could be caught: 13,000 from Bali, 2,000 from East Java, 10,000 from Central Sulawesi, 10,000 from Southeast Sulawesi, and 3,000 from North Sulawesi.

Erwin Dwiyana, director of marketing at the fisheries ministry, says Banggai cardinalfish is a protected species under ministerial decree, meaning catches are limited to certain areas and certain times. Where they occur naturally around the Banggai Islands, they can only be fished outside of their peak spawning period of February-March and October-November.

Concerns about the trade have not disappeared and some conservation groups want it to be banned.

Regulation lacking, data too

According to Indonesia’s statistics agency, what are known as “ornamental fish” – those sold to be displayed in aquariums rather than eaten – continue to be a growth area. Exports grew from US$36.43 million in 2022 to US$39.06m in 2023, with 30% of the total going to China, 12% to the EU and 12% to the United States, according to figures supplied by Erwin.

Despite the importance of the trade to local people and the potential environmental damage that comes with it, there are big questions over how well this activity is managed in Indonesia.

Gayatri Reksodihardjo, managing director of the LINI Foundation, which focuses on sustainable fisheries in Indonesia, says demand for marine ornamental fish is “still high”. There is no overarching management for catching them, although a governance framework is currently under development, she adds.

“Because of no management, it is difficult [to obtain] data and information on ornamental fish. So, this needs to be improved,” says Gayatri.

Businesses, associations, and the government all hold different and separate data on Banggai cardinalfish, for example, stymieing efforts to understand the trade, she adds.

Sarminto, of the fisheries ministry, also says that there is currently no management instrument for ornamental fish, so protection relies on customs and export controls.

Understanding a complicated global market

Indonesia is not unique in struggling with this trade.

Gordon Watson, a zoology professor at University of Portsmouth, UK, tells China Dialogue Ocean that the ornamental market is one of the most complicated issues in fisheries and conservation. A lack of data on what is being caught and where makes understanding the issue difficult, he adds.

Last year, Watson published what he believes is the first estimate of the global trade. It suggests 55 million organisms are sold every year for aquariums at a retail value of US$2.15 billion. Watson points out that this number is equivalent to the trade in some major food fish such as tuna.

The Coral Triangle – a region encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste – is a key part of this. It covers more than 6.5 million square kilometres and is home to more than 600 reef-building coral species (75% of all such species globally) and 3,000 coral fish species (40% of the global total), according to NOAA.

Watson believes the ornamental fish trade can support livelihoods but good management and better data are needed to ensure it is sustainable. If this can happen, fish trade for aquariums could prove an effective way to incentivise protecting the world’s increasingly threatened coral reefs.

Around the Banggai Islands, trade in aquarium fish continues, but catching the Banggai cardinalfish for export has ceased, China Dialogue Ocean has been told. In Bone Baru village, Saleh says the locals are again focusing on cultivating cloves and coconuts for now.

This article was originally published on Dialogue Earth under the Creative Commons BY NC ND licence.

On 14 February, shortly after Prabowo Subianto and his running mate emerged as the presumed winners of Indonesia’s presidential election, Prabowo told a crowd in Jakarta that “this victory should be a victory for all Indonesians.”

That proclamation may ring hollow for the country’s Indigenous peoples. Prabowo’s new government appears set to continue expanding Indonesia’s domestic resource-processing capabilities. This signals the continued, unjust plunder of Indigenous territory.

The government of the incumbent president, Joko Widodo, has been indecisive, and seemingly toying, with taking care of Indigenous communities. That their protection remains a normative and romantic discourse is apparent in government policy that does not protect them.

Numerous food security policies have not adequately considered Indigenous territories or sovereignty. Take for example the “food estate programme”, announced in 2020, to develop vast food plantations across Indonesia. Implementation of the programme in Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan province, failed to consult local knowledge. The disastrous results not only fell far short of achieving Indonesian food sovereignty, but also ignored the historical and philosophical value that Kalimantan people place upon Gunung Mas.

Indigenous voices vs political agendas

According to data from Indonesia’s Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago, as of January 2024, the country is home to 2,565 Indigenous communities, representing 22 million people. These communities are spread widely throughout the country, so it can be argued that the basis and characteristics of Indonesian society are its Indigenous peoples. However, the misalignment of political policies with the protection of Indigenous peoples does not reflect this situation.

The major problems encountered by these communities are deforestation, agricultural crises, marginalisation and discrimination, and the usurpation of customary rights. These problems often coincide with massive extraction operations in indigenous forests by giant corporations.

Another issue is electoral participation: identification cards must be presented at polling stations, but Indigenous communities have faced difficulties in obtaining these.

The romanticisation of Indigenous peoples is a typical component of an Indonesian political campaign, with elites acknowledging related issues and making pledges. However, this is usually nothing more than a tactic for garnering electoral support.

For example, Widodo made six pledges regarding Indigenous rights during his 2014 election campaign. These were incorporated into his Nawacita programme, which would ratify Indonesia’s Indigenous Peoples Bill (RUU Masyarakat Adat) and create an independent task force for Indigenous communities, among other commitments. The Nawacita programme’s goals are yet to be realised.

Prabowo, a former defence minister, and his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Joko Widodo’s son, did not reveal many concrete plans to bolster Indigenous rights during their election campaign, which calls their commitment to these issues into question.

The Prabowo–Gibran campaign championed ongoing investments in mining to capitalise on the energy transition. Indigenous communities are typically cast aside when these mega projects encroach on their territories.

For example, nickel mining in Halmahera, on the island of North Maluku, has led to the marginalisation and criminalisation of Indonesia’s isolated O’Hongana Manyawa (“the people of the forest”). While the tribe attempts to defend ancestral territories on Halmahera Island from the area’s biggest mining company, Weda Bay Nickel, deforestation and pollution has ensued.

No formal legal recognition

Currently, there is no legal umbrella that protects the existence of Indigenous peoples in Indonesia, and their status and recognition requires one. The Indigenous Peoples Bill was first proposed in 2009, but is yet to be ratified, despite Joko Widodo’s repeated promises to do so.

Once sworn in on 20 October, Prabowo and Gibran must therefore prioritise this bill. Obtaining consensus from Indigenous communities is crucial for the management of their lands, especially considering Gibran’s frequent promotion of downstream projects during the election campaign.

Indonesia’s Indigenous agenda is still far from attaining substantial progress. It should never again be used merely as a campaign tool to grab votes.

What’s next?

Despite the challenges, the current government has issued some policies pertaining to Indigenous inclusion. For example, the Ministry of Education and Culture has made efforts to incorporate Indigenous schools into its databases. And in 2023, the movement Indigenous Youth Front of the Archipelago (BPAN) received significant acknowledgement from the state when it won a Ministry of Youth and Sports award for its access-to-education advocacy.

Civil support for Indigenous communities continues to be taken seriously, evidenced by initiatives such as the Nusantara Fund, which claims to be “Indonesia’s first direct funding mechanism for Indigenous peoples and local communities”.

Indigenous peoples do not only demand recognition and protection of their individual rights, but also the enablement of land restoration and collective rights. These demands are reaffirmed by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indeed, the grand idea of ​​protecting Indigenous peoples is a tenet of sustainable development, but a transactional economic system that prioritises capital accumulation undermines it.

As the excitement of Indonesia’s general election subsides, we need to witness a practical realisation of policies that intersect with Indigenous rights. After years of fighting and struggling, the government must ratify the Indigenous Peoples Bill.

This article was originally published on Dialogue Earth under the Creative Commons BY NC ND licence.

Smoking pipes carved from elephant ivory, multi-coloured cockatoos, and an Australian frilled lizard: these are just some examples of wildlife and their products offered for sale online, illegally, in Indonesia. They were among 996 adverts, posted by 421 social media accounts, logged in a survey conducted by Indonesia’s environment ministry and NGO the Wildlife Conservation Society between April 2021 and March 2022.

Parrots were the most frequently listed live animal, with 20 different species documented in the survey, while elephant ivory was the most recorded body part, representing 56% of all adverts logged.

“There is an indication of an increase [in online wildlife trafficking] during Covid-19,” Krismanko Padang, one of the survey authors, tells China Dialogue.

In January 2023, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry stated in a press release that in 2022 it had found 638 social media accounts selling protected wild animals. A total of 1,163 protected animals were being offered for sale on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as major e-commerce sites such as Tokopedia and Kaskus, the ministry stated.

Padang says that platforms generally respond to reports of illegal wildlife trade online by immediately taking down the offending account.

“But this is not effective because if one account is closed down, they can just set up another 10 new accounts,” notes Dwi Adhiasto, an independent consultant and expert in wildlife trafficking based in Bogor, West Java. Instead, he says, stricter punishment that is written into the law is necessary to tackle online wildlife trafficking.

Revising Indonesia’s Wildlife Law

Indonesia’s House of Representatives is currently discussing a revision of the Law on Conservation of Living Natural Resources and their Ecosystems. This law, which came into force in 1990, prohibits trade in protected wildlife, and is still the legal basis for indicting wildlife traffickers, including those operating online.

Between 2007 and 2008, the then-Forestry Department (now known as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry) initiated a public consultation on updating the 1990 law. The conversation was only resumed in 2016.

In 2017, the lawmakers in the House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, or DPR) released a bill on amendments to the law for discussion with the government. It aims to strengthen law enforcement, improve management and funding for conservation, and acknowledge Indigenous peoples.

Based on a draft wording of the law obtained by China Dialogue in April, some of the changes lawmakers proposed include:

• Sanctions for businesses and corporations operating within important ecosystems outside conservation areas
• Expanding the range of evidence admissible in court to include electronic information, electronic documents, and maps
• Additional fines to support ecosystem recovery, replanting, and preservation
• Increasing minimum jail terms and fines for wildlife trade-related offences
• Including a definition of ‘Indigenous peoples’ and acknowledging their participation in protecting their customary lands

In 2018, the government decided to stop progress of the bill, saying a revision was not necessary and the existing law was still relevant.

However, lawmakers decided to continue the discussion, approving it as a ‘DPR initiative bill’ in 2022. Debate is now happening under Commission IV of the DPR, which oversees issues relating to the environment and forestry, fisheries, peatlands, mangroves and agriculture. At the time of publication, discussions between lawmakers and related stakeholders, including civil society groups and the environment ministry, are ongoing.

Daniel Johan, a member of Commission IV from the National Awakening Party, says it is important to revise the law because of the severe threat that illegal wildlife trade and poaching pose to biodiversity and ecosystems. “Hopefully it [a revised law] can target the main actors, not only the low-level trader actors in the field,” Johan says.

Conservation groups call for stricter punishment
Under the current law, those convicted of illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia face a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 100 million rupiah (US$6,426). Several conservation groups China Dialogue interviewed argue that this is not strict enough.

“We can understand that [the law] was made in 1990 and, probably at that time, that amount of money was a lot,” says Adrianus Eryan, a researcher at the NGO Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL). “But it is not relevant in current years, considering inflation, demand, and the value of these animals, which could be worth a lot more than that.” Eryan adds that, in practice, the maximum sentence is usually around two years rather than five.

“ICEL has been encouraging since 2005… a revision [of the law] and pushing not just criminal fines, but to look at the whole policy,” he says. “It would be worthwhile if perpetrators did not just serve time, but also paid for the recovery [veterinary treatment or rehabilitation] of these animals. The current law does not talk about recovery, and it is not cheap to feed the animals, care for their medicines, and deal with the release.”

If the bill is passed, the revised law would impose a minimum sentence of two to five years’ imprisonment, and a fine of between 600 million rupiah ($40,189) and 2 billion rupiah ($134,013), for cases involving the illegal trade of protected wild animals.

Article 21 of the 1990 law prohibits the capture, injury, killing, possession, transport and trade of any live protected animal, and the possession, transport or trade of any dead protected animal.

Krismanko Padang suggests that Article 21 should be amended to refer to online trading specifically. “I think it will be good to include the word ‘online’ in the revision. For instance, to say: ‘It is forbidden to trade protected animals through online media’.”

Padang explains that under the current law, authorities must expend significant effort to track down the seller in person and prove they are in possession of the illegal item. A revised law could allow electronic transactions to be used as evidence, he says. “If we can just provide electronic proof as evidence and [that] there’s money paid for this transaction, compared to bringing the actual animals, it would make our jobs easier,” Padang says. “Once they post [on social media] and we can ensure that these animals exist, we can enforce the law.”

Adhiasto points out that the current requirement to have the actual animal as evidence is restricting authorities’ ability to apply the law to people higher up in the trade network. “The officials will try to meet [sellers] in person and bring the animals to the transaction. You can do this for the sellers, but not really with the actual organiser, financial backers, or even those managing the network,” he explains.

“We want to bring a deterrent effect to these perpetrators, because [at present] we find that one [perpetrator] can do the same crime at least three times. It means that there’s no deterrent effect,” Padang says, adding that a minimum sentence should be added to a revised version of the law. He also notes that punishment for online trading should be heavier, because such practice holds the potential for illegal cross-border trade that’s accessible anywhere – not just in Indonesia.

Eryan says that the conservation bill must be passed urgently to be able to effectively tackle online wildlife trading. “In terms of law enforcement, this [current] law is really weak. We cannot achieve anything if the foundation is not better.

“If they’re serious, a month is enough [to get the bill passed] because all the answers are there,” he says. “This has been going on for 33 years; there is plenty of research going around. This is just about political will.”

This article was originally published on China Dialogue under the Creative Commons BY NC ND licence.

Indonesian Agency for Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika or simply BMKG) reminds all parties to anticipate the forest and land fire potentials in 2021. BMKG Deputy, Herizal, said that BMKG would keep monitoring the weather and climate change in Indonesia. This includes analyzing and informing the society and the stakeholders so they can do earlier mitigation.

“Mild and severe drought threats happen in June till September and October,” Herizal said in a virtual event “Forum Merdeka Barat 9 (FMB9) Media Discussion” headlined “Tangkas Tangkal Kahutla” (English: Deftly Prevent Forest and Land Fires), held on Monday (31/5/2021).

He also mentioned in February of this year, the hotspots in Aceh, North Sumatera and West Kalimantan would get worse but they would cool down in March 2021. As for Riau Province, the hotspots are getting hotter till March and will cool down in April 2021.

Based on BMKG’s observation in April and May of 2021, the rainfall is higher than its normal average. Herizal said that this could minimize forest and land fire threats. Wet climate doesn’t make peat water level decreased.

This year, BMKG predicted that the dry season would get better. Herizal requested that the control and mitigation measures of the forest and land fire potential of 2021 be encouraged. “Based on our observation, 55 percent of season zone areas have already been in dry season,” he said.

Most of the areas are in East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, Bali as well as most regions in Java, South Sumatera, Aceh, South Kalimantan and Papua.

Herizal said that if the region is green-colored, this means the rainfall is still high. However, when it is brown or red, caution is needed.

Lancang Kuning App to Suppress Forest Fire Area

In the meantime, Deputy Governor of Riau Province, Edy Nasution, said that Riau used dashboard application, Lancang Kuning Nusantara, which claims to be able to suppress the forest fire area. According to him, by using the control panel application, the currently appearing hotpots will be detected in real-time.

“So, where there is a new hotspot, we can already map where the hotspot is. Then, we directly instruct available personnel to overcome the hotspot,” he said.

He also mentioned that the application developed by the Riau Regional Police gave positive impacts. The reason is his region is able to suppress larger forest fires by using the application. Besides using the application, Riau Province also has strategy to prevent and overcome forest and land fires.

What happened six years ago motivated the use of Lancang Kuning Nusantara. In 2015, smog from the forest and land fires that happened in Riau caused economic slowdown, airport closure, stoppage of school activities.

“Fire area in 2014 was actually larger. However, in 2015, Forest fires also happened in South Sumatera and Jambi which caused bigger fire effect in Riau Province,” he said.

As for 2019, according to Edy, the case was similar to what happened in 2015. What sets them apart is forest fires in 2015 took less time to stop.

Referring to that and also following the instruction from President Joko Widodo, Riau Provincial Government has done early detection. In 2020, Riau Provincial Government carried out patrols with Indonesian National Army, Indonesian National Police, Ministry of Environment and Forestry and other relevant agencies.

Writer: Dewi Purningsih

Translated by Barli Kifli

Jakarta (Greeners) – Japan’s government is planning to dispose treated water from Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant to the ocean. Regarding that, BAPETEN, the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency of Indonesia, considers this action doable. Dumping the treated water can be done as long as the tritium concentration or other radionuclides contained in it is below the concentration limit set nationally and internationally.

Forbes reports that Japan’s government has decided to release the radioactive water stored at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant to the ocean. This plan gets protests from fishermen and consumers in the neighboring countries like China and South Korea.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan has just released the basic policy to dispose the treated water. The water is treated using Advanced Liquid Processing System to remove all the contaminants below the environment level and stored in a tank in a complex location.

However, the processing system cannot remove tritium, the least radioactive and dangerous among all radioactive elements.

Based on the policy document, tritium will be diluted to less than 1,500 becquerel per liter which is 1/40 of the allowed concentration based on the Japan’s safety standard and 1/7 of the WHO’s guidance for drinking water.

Tritium Content of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Needs Attention

Meanwhile, Head of Legal, Cooperation and Public Communication Bureau of the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN), Indra Gunawan, stated that liquid radioactive waste from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant contains tritium.

Regarding tritium, how tritium is made. Naturally, tritium is a product from a nuclear reaction between air molecules (Nitrogen and Oxygen) and high-energy cosmic rays in the atmosphere. Artificially, tritium is a release that can come from nuclear power plants and nuclear weapon tests. Both of these activities can create an increase in tritium significantly in the environment.

“When consumed in a large amount directly body, tritium can cause health risks. This is because the beta radiation can destroy the soft tissues and internal organs inside a human body. The health effect from tritium is similar to how ionizing radiation damages cells. Regarding ionizing radiation, it is produced by radioactive decay, with potential cancer. However, one needs to receive tritium with millions of activities (x10⁹) Becquerel (Bq) to see the health effects,” Indra said in his written explanation, Wednesday (05/05/2021).

“For that reason, the disposal of the liquid waste of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant to the ocean is possible as the concentration of tritium or other radionuclides contained in it has dropped below the concentration limit set nationally and internationally,” He explained.

Government’s Regulation regarding Tritium Threshold

BAPATEN has published BAPETEN’s Chairman Regulation Number 16 Year 2012 on Klierens level. The regulation has set the klierens level of tritium to be less than 100 Bq/Gram. It is with a consideration that individual effective dosage received by people is less than 10 µSv (micro Sievert)/year.

Exceeding the tritium concentration limit is doable if the dosage of tritium from waste disposal does not exceed 100 µSv/year.

When the dosage received by people is less than 100 µSv/year, the effect of the radiation can be ignored. In total, the acceptable dosage for humans of the substance released to the environment cannot be more than 1 mSv/year.

Internationally, WHO limits tritium contained in drinking water to 10,000 Bq/L. the tritium limitation in drinking water varies across countries. In the United States and Canada the limit are  740 Bq/L and 7,000 Bq/L, respectively. In addition, Switzerland’s limitation is 10,000 Bq/L while Australia’s is 76,103 Bq/L.

Writer: Dewi Purningsih

Translate by : Barli Kifli

Source: www.ncr.gov

In Indonesia, only 9 percent of plastic waste is well managed. One of the most significant contributors to plastic waste comes from Bottled Drinking Water (AMDK). The problem is increasing, considering that bottled drinking water manufacturers still issue a new variant of plastic packaging, namely single-use gallons. Judging this product as a setback, two high school students initiate a petition to refuse single-use gallons.

Jakarta (Greeners) – Two students of State Senior High School (SMAN) 6 Bekasi, named Elhan and Helfia, assess that single-use gallons drinking water products are a setback to the mission to reduce plastic waste.

Their change.org page initiates the petition “Refuse Single-Use Gallons” to one of the significant bottled drinking water producers. Elhan says the gallons provision program at her school inspired the emergence of this petition.

“The reason we started this petition is that we think of disposable gallons is a step back from the programs we have at school. Especially the gallons provision program,” says Elhan, at the press conference for the Refusal of Disposable Gallons Petition, Tuesday (29/12/2020).

SMAN 6 Bekasi Reusable Gallons Program Cuts 4 Kilograms of Waste per Day

As of January 14, 2021, over 26,000 people supported this petition. Elhan – who is also active in environmental organizations at her school – says that SMAN 6 Bekasi rejects single-use plastic packaging, especially bottled water.

She explains that SMAN 6 Bekasi has implemented the reusable gallons program for three years. In each hallway of SMAN 6 Bekasi, she continues, there are 2-3 reusable water gallons for drinking.

She mentions that data shows per three months after the program took place at SMAN 6 Bekasi, waste from the previous 10 kilograms (kg) per day is reduced to 6kg.

She reckons the data proves that bottled water is the number one waste at SMAN 6 Bekasi.

“The reusable gallon is effective in reducing plastic bottle waste. However, the existence of these disposable gallons is concerning. It’s useless if we reduce bottled water if the gallon is single-use plastic,” Elhan complains.

“There are claims that packaging is easy to recycle, but the management and responsibility are still unclear,” she protests.

Activist: Do Not Underestimate a Petition

Executive Director of the Indonesian Plastic Bag Diet Movement, Tiza Mafira, assesses that a petition is not trivial. Reflecting on the success of banning plastic bags, she believes that petitions from the public can bring substantial changes.

Moreover, she continues, if the petition’s initiators and the supporting communities were truly consistent and fought for their aspirations.

Furthermore, Mafira says that Elhan and Helfia’s idea of rejecting single-use gallons was the right step. The petition is targeting a single-use gallons manufacturer or brand.

Mafira reminds the company that a petition that directly appoints a party does not mean the plea comes from a competitor.

This petition, she adds, aims to bring about changes followed by other producers – especially for bottled drinking water producers.

Mafira assesses that large producers often market products with false claims. She reckons that the marketing volume tends to be massive for single-use gallons and even attracts well-known influencers.

“The company must make a change. With a bigger market share and more influence on the market, they can have more power to take a step and influence their competitors,” she suggests.

Mafira assesses that large producers often market products with false claims. Pic: Shutterstock.

Also read: Expert Explains The Indonesian Way of Circular Economy

Plastic Waste Producers Must Have a Roadmap and Open Their Data

Greenpeace Indonesia Urban Campaigner, Muharram Atha Rasyadi, says the plastic waste rejection campaign or movement must be ready to deal with big industries.

Even so, he continues, the current campaign had a strong foundation with existing regulations. One of them is the presence of Minister of Environment Regulation (KLHK) number 75 of 2019 regarding the Roadmap for Waste Management by Producers.

According to Rasyadi, with this regulation, producers, especially single-use plastic packaging manufacturers, must have a roadmap since 2020.

In 2021, he adds that these companies must start to carry out waste management from their products.

Rasyadi also warns entrepreneurs not to make products or activities that contradict existing regulations.

“These single-use gallons is a contradiction. When producers should reduce their plastic waste, they even issue new products that have the potential to become single-use waste,” he says.

Furthermore, Rasyadi explains, his party gave several notes in the LHK Regulation Number 75 of 2020. According to him, the regulation does not include the disclosure of waste management data by companies. The data is vital so that people are aware of the progress in waste management of producers.

“If producers convey the packaging or their recycling process is good, they need to open their data as widely as possible. How much recycling are they doing? Where is the reach and place point? Is the volume of production balanced from the amount of recycling?” asks Rasyadi.

Reporter: Muhammad Ma’rup

Editor: Ixora Devi

The circular economy is an option to strengthen the economy without burdening the environment. In this perspective, waste has economic value through a series of management processes. Indonesia may have been implementing the same concept for a long time. It’s just that the process and shape are different from developed countries, especially in Europe.

Jakarta (Greeners) – Professor of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Prof. Dr. Enri Damanhuri, explains that the circular economy in Europe started in the 1980s. In Indonesia, he continues, the circular economy had begun in the 1960s. According to him, there are differences in views regarding waste in Indonesia and European countries. In developed countries, all used goods are count as garbage. Meanwhile, in developing countries like Indonesia, these goods are not waste. Locals can see economic value in these goods.

“In developing countries (used goods) is not rubbish. They have economic value that can be useful. From this point of view, Indonesia has started a circular economy, but European countries do not want the principle,” says Prof. Damanhuri, to Greeners, Monday (12/7/2020).

The Role of the Informal Sector

Prof. Damanhuri adds that the spirit of a circular economy is also contained in Law number 18 of 2008 concerning Waste Management. Of the nine principles in the Law, three of them are related to this principle. The three principles are sustainability, benefits, and economic value.

He continues that the informal sector, such as scavengers and collectors, plays a role in applying the circular economy. However, according to him, the informal sector is profit-oriented. It may even be that the informal sector is not interested in the environment, even the circular economy.

“Their activity is to get profit for their life. Many of our friends in the informal sector do their job without paying attention to safety and health. They managed to process waste with makeshift technology. They buy valuables in the garbage that we throw into the environment,” he explains.

Rantai pengelolaan sampah masih menjadi persoalan. Foto: Pexels.

Waste Management Chain: Challenges of Indonesia’s Circular Economy

Furthermore, Prof. Damanhuri says the waste management chain was essential in the circular economy. Three components play a role so that waste does not interfere with health and the environment. The three parts are the waste bank, the informal sector, and the formal sector.

In Indonesia, especially regarding plastic waste, the waste management chain is still a problem. The reason being, the three components are still not synergic. On the other hand, the three components’ quantity is always centered on Java and Bali’s islands. This condition makes the waste management chain in Indonesia long, thus hampering the circular economy.

“So plastic outside Java and Bali for the process must go to Java. From an economic point of view, this is not profitable. The circular economy concept shortens the logistics chain for goods and the economy at the locations,” he adds.

Government Simultaneously Encourages The Circular Economy

Meanwhile, the Director of Waste Management at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), Novrizal Taher, mentions the circular economy as one of the approaches in solving the waste problem in Indonesia. Currently, the government continues to encourage the simultaneous application of this method. In terms of government service facilities, behavior in society, and increased demand and recycling technology capacity.

Also, Taher adds, his party did two important things to implement a circular economy:

The first is to ensure the capacity of a circular economic ecosystem. Taher emphasizes that all parties from upstream to downstream must support this concept.

The second is from the environmental sector. According to Taher, his party supports the circular economy by encouraging fiscal and standardization of recycled products. Thus, he continues, it can maintain the availability of raw materials.

“Our recycling industry, especially plastics and paper, we fully strive for the raw materials to be met from within the country,” he concludes.

Reporter: Muhammad Ma’rup

Editor: Ixora Devi

Indonesia’s biodiversity holds billions of potentials for national development. Unfortunately, we can only absorb so little. Experts highlight the lack of public knowledge about plants, the lack of focus of the government, and the lack of unity of all stakeholders as obstacles in reaping the fruits of this natural potential.

Jakarta (Greeners) – Karen Tambayong, a plant expert who is also a Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Horticulture, Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, emphasizes that Indonesia needs to make plants a national strength. The reason is, Indonesia is rich in flora diversity. She argues that there are still many species that we have not recorded. Not to mention the various benefits that people can get from plants, such as health benefits, culinary purposes, and even economic values.

However, she continues, the utilization of the country’s flora has not been maximized. Based on Trade Map data related to global crop trade, Indonesia is in the 51st position with a detailed income of 17,761 dollars. This amount is only 0.1 percent of the total international trade. For the cultivation process, she adds that Indonesia is still experiencing shortages in research and development and the quantity of those who cultivate plants.

“Indonesia has all kinds of plants; however, we are not focusing on any of them. Our superiority is in tropical plants that are still abundant in the forests, “explained Tambayong at Greeners’ webinar entitled Mengenal Potensi Pemanfaatan Flora Indonesia, Tuesday (11/24/2020).

Expert: Indonesia is not Focusing on the Potential of Domestic Flora

Tambayong hopes that Indonesia can follow the steps of other countries. She gives an example of Australia, which has a grand design for local plant production. To do the same thing in Indonesia, she continues, it needs all parties such as the government, business people, researchers, and the community to develop Indonesian flora’s potential more sustainably.

“We are less active and less united. All parties, government, activists, and business actors need to sit at one table. To map out our strengths and make our strategies. Figuring out what should be optimized,” she says.

Furthermore, Tambayong also highlights ethics and regulations in using the potential of the nation’s plants. Under various rules in Indonesia, she adds that plants’ use must come from the cultivation process. As for the operation of taking plants from nature, only the parent plants are allowed. If we bring all the plants from the forest, it can threaten the plant habitat. Besides, Tambayong argues that the cultivation process can be much more beneficial and profitable.

“Who says we are allowed to take plants in the forest? We cultivate with technology. From one plant we can produce one thousand, two thousand, even one million plants. Foreigners do it all the time. Meanwhile, we are not doing anything,” says Tambayong.

Pakar mengingatkan warga untuk tidak mengambil tanaman dari hutan melainkan mulai melakukan budi daya. Foto: Shutterstock.

Preserving the Love of Plants

On the same occasion, the Founder of Kebun Tanaman Obat Sari Alam, Oday Kodariyah, urges all Indonesian stakeholders to pay more attention to plants. According to her, all Indonesian need to maintain their love for plants. It is an attempt to plants preservation as well as local ancestral wisdom.

The winner of the Kalpataru Award in 2018 continues to strive to educate the public. Especially the younger generation, as the nation’s next generation. According to her, today’s younger generation’s challenge is that they are less connected with nature. So that they have not maximized the potentials of wildlife, including plants surround them.

“Have we been proud of Indonesia’s biodiversity? Our ancestors did that without any orders from anyone. They work together with nature,” she says, emotionally.

Also read: Gazing the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Animal Conservation Efforts

Introducing National Biodiversity to the Younger Generation 

Kodariyah also expressed her disapproval of exporting Indonesia’s plants before Indonesians became acquainted with these plants. She then talks about her experience teaching plants to nine hundred junior high school students. Kodariyah mentions her concern about young people who do not know much about their land biodiversity.

“So many of them do not know about turmeric tree, kencur tree. Everything that they eat, they do not know. But this is a challenge. I must be able to convey to millennial children how important it is to know this biodiversity,” she argues.

Of the nine hundred junior high school students who took lessons on medicinal plants at that time, there were already twenty students who became ambassadors for medicinal plants.

“It’s tough, but we can certainly do it. The modern era crushed the younger generation because their family did not even tell them about our precious plants. We are struggling our best to convey sincerely,” concludes Kodariyah.

Reporter: Muhammad Ma’rup

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – Throughout 2020, the global community has witnessed how the Covid-19 pandemic has been limiting humans’ social life. State authorities, health experts have come up with rules and adjustments to guide citizens’ safety during the pandemic. It is not only humans who experience changes during an epidemic. Animal conservation practitioners have also witnessed changes due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Field Assistant III Centre for Orang Utan Protection (COP), Ramadhani, shares stories about the process of preserving orangutans in Berau, East Kalimantan (Kaltim). The man who prefers to be called Dhani, explains that since the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) had stopped all types of visiting activities. It includes the orangutan rehabilitation center.

“The rehabilitation center has three work locations: the rehabilitation center, the pre-release island, and the release location. At the end of March 28, the location is vacated. We withdrew all animals and employees,” said Dhani in the 2020 Greeners’ webinar Hari Cinta Puspa dan Satwa: The Challenge of Fauna Conservation in the Pandemic Era, Thursday (12/11/2020).

Facing Pandemic, COP Designs SOP for Orangutan Conservation

Further, Dhani explains that after the withdrawal, orangutan rehabilitation activities were minimal. COP also arranged the workers’ holiday schedule not to have much physical contact with the outside community. His party does not want to take risks, given the relatively high spread of Covid-19 cases in Berau. Further, studies on the impact of the Covid-19 virus on primates have not been carried out, so COP must be extra careful. They are worried that the Covid-19 virus will be bad for orangutans, considering that their DNA from humans is only 3% different.

After almost five months of inactivity, his office has developed a health protocol for orangutan preservation in the form of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The SOP, Dhani continues, was a form against the never-ending Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the orangutans have been spending five months entirely in the cage.

“In August, we dared to make our SOP. We thought that Covid-19 must be ‘fought.’ Usually, after work, employees can take a break, now they must quickly clean up. It includes doing rehabilitation activities,” he explains.

WCS: Declining Demand, Shark Landings Decrease

Another view of animal conservation during the Covid-19 pandemic emerged from the water sector. On the same occasion, Marine Policy Coordinator, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Ita Sualia, says that for shark and stingray conservation activities, there was a positive impact from the Covid-19 pandemic. Sharks and rays, she continues, are the top predators in the sea, so it is vital to maintain the ecosystem’s balance. However, the two species’ exploitation activity is also high, both from within the country and abroad.

With the Covid-19 pandemic, marine activities such as shipping, transportation, and tourism have been closed. Threats to sharks and rays such as fishing, overfishing, etc., have also decreased. The price for both of them has also reduced given the lack of demand.

“In the Lampulo Aceh area, Tanjung Luar, if we look at the number of sharks that have been landed, it is very significantly lower. It is because the market demand and shipments were stagnating. This is a positive thing from the reduction in fishing effort pressure,” says Sualia.

Baca juga: Government Ignores Komodo Researchers on Rinca Island Project

Animal Conservation Activists Suspect Increased in Animal Poaching during Covid-19 Pandemic

Both Dhani and Sualia argue that most local communities turn to make animal hunting their livelihood during the pandemic. Not only as a hobby, but some parties hunt to sell their catch, given that the Covid-19 plague also resulted in many employees being laid off (PHK).

“Several companies that have laid off their employees have also triggered an increase in hunting. Confusion of the village people led them by entering the forest and hunting for animals,” says Dhani.

Echoing Dhani, Sualia assesses that the sluggish tourism sector has made coastal communities turn to fishers. On the other hand, Covid-19 pandemic also limited the conservationist process of monitoring trade and arrests. Sualia concludes that specific individuals can take advantage of the situation.

“We cannot do the monitoring and verification of catches in the field. It is only through cellphones. The opportunity for entrepreneurs or individuals to replace identified products is very high. Apart from that, for marine patrols, the budget has been diverted to prioritize Covid-19,” she says.

Talking about poaching and illegal animal trade, the Executive Coordinator of the Asian Waterbird Census Indonesia from Wetlands International Indonesia, Ragil Satriyo Gumilang, argues that law enforcers’ ability to prevent illegal hunting activities is minimal. For that, he invites the participation of the general public to help through complaint information.

Gumilang also urges the law enforcement agencies related to illegal hunting to improve their handling system. For example, to block access to information on poaching or illicit trade. Gumilang says that reports from the public have to go through a lot of bureaucracy before there is any action.

“If (reporting handling) is systemized, it’s good. No need for a long and bureaucratic process,” Gumilang concludes.

Reporter: Muhammad Ma’rup

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – Evy Arida, a zoological researcher at the Center for Biological Research, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), voices her criticism to the government. Her criticism is regarding the absence of studies related to the arrangement of facilities and infrastructure in the Loh Buaya Valley, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park (KNP). She directs her critics to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).

“Frankly, I was surprised by the news in the last few days. The government should be specific when building this kind of large scale development because it involves the komodo dragon’s habitat. Regrettably, they do not discuss the current study. We need to criticize this because it concerns the animals we are proud of. The construction must be careful,” says Arida to Greeners, Tuesday (27/10/2020).

Additionally, the komodo dragon population is separated into five main islands. These five main islands are Komodo Island, Rinca, Padar, Nusa Kode (Gili Dasami), and Gili Motang. In Flores, komodo dragons are scattered in four conservation areas. They are Wae Wuul Nature Reserve, Wolo Tado, Riung, and the Seventeen Islands Nature Park. Some populations also live in protected forest areas and other use areas on the west and north coast of Flores. Some dragons live in the Essential Ecosystem Area of the Pota Protected Forest.

LIPI: There is No Invitation from Government to Consult Rinca Island Project

As a komodo dragon researcher at the only scientific institution in the country, Arida feels that the government has never contacted her. Despite the necessity to pay more attention to the habitat and population of komodo dragons, the government continues its Rinca Island project. Arida explains the impact of development on animal habitat has a profound effect on resident animals.

“I have never been contacted regarding the development of this particular tourism facility. I only knew it from the news of the construction these three days. It turned out that something they already design and build something. There is no special invitation to form a study team. I don’t know. But, when it comes to komodo dragons, lizards, and reptiles, they usually contact me,” argues Arida.

To confirm Arida’s statement, we contact the Head of Zoology at LIPI, Cahyo Rahmadi. Rahmadi also states the same thing. He does not find an official invitation regarding the study of the Facility and Infrastructure Arrangement in the Loh Buaya Valley, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park.

“Apparently, there is none, I have checked. Later, if there is information related to the letter, I will update it,” says Rahmadi.

KLHK Claims to Limit the Development of Tourism

Meanwhile, the Director-General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems KLHK, Wiratno, says that the Ministry of PUPR would submit the study results through the official website.

“Later, we will convey the results of the study. I hope those who are interested in the study must go there (Rinca Island). So that they can see first hand what the impact will be. This Saturday, together with PUPR, I will go directly to the field. We will publish the results of the study through the website of the Ministry of PUPR,” he says at a press conference, Wednesday (28/10).

Further, Komodo National Park received a global label in 1980. KNP is established as Biosphere Reserve (1977) and World Heritage (1991) by UNESCO. It covers 173,300 Ha, consisting of 58,449 Ha (33.76%) of land and 114,801 Ha (66, 24%) of water. The government established a Land Use Zone of 824 Ha (0.4%) and a Marine Tourism Use Zone of 1,584 Ha (0.95%) of this area.

“According to the zone and area of KNP, the development of nature tourism is very limited, only in the Use Zone. It is a precautionary principle since planning the management space in KNP. Also, every day ten rangers ensure that before construction work begins, there are checks under buildings or rubble and trucks,” says Wiratno.

Reporter: Dewi Purningsih

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – Through a letter from the Minister of Agriculture on March 6, 1980, the government established the Komodo National Park conservation area. At that time, the Komodo National Park designation was part of an effort to educate and conserve the komodo dragons. Now, that dream has shifted, says Yuvensius Stefanus Nonga, Division of Natural Resources of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Nonga assesses that government policies and regulations, especially the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), are far from the spirit of determining the komodo area four decades ago. Now the development of regulations and policies targeting Komodo National Park as the prima donna of Indonesian tourism.

According to Nonga, since 1992, the government allowed large-scale tourism developers to enter the komodo dragon habitat. Fueled on economic ambitions, the government continues to develop conservation land into premium tourist attractions that threaten animals and biodiversity. How does the large-scale building of initiatives changing the habitat of the komodo dragon impact the animals themselves?

Nonga explains, the komodo dragon, Varanus komodoensis, is one of the rare species of lizard. It is the only ancient animal that has survived to this day and is listed as a world wonder. The komodo dragon is a solitary animal or has a solitary nature except during the mating season.

“Due to its solitary nature, it tends to stay away from the crowd and be alone. Only when it is the new mating season, the komodo dragons would gather. It means that the large-scale development or access to crowds disrupts the habitat of the komodo dragon itself. So, what needs to be done is a development policy in the komodo dragon’s habitat related to conservation efforts. This policy should include letting the komodo dragons live naturally and letting them become wild animals,” says Nonga to Greeners, Monday (26/10/2020).

NGO: The Government Should Focus on Developing Science and Education

The largest habitat for Komodo dragons is on Rinca Island and Padar Island. Ecologically, Nonga continues, these two islands have the most suitable topography to support this species’ growth and development. Further, Nonga conveys that the government should focus on science and education efforts, considering that komodo experts are still rare. In fact, in the area of the komodo dragons’ original habitat, no one has expertise in these wild animals.

“Komodo is a world wonder that needs to be prioritized. We should prioritize development projects that based on studies, research. Specifically related to the komodo dragon gene. It has to be a priority before determining a ‘super-premium’ development model. This model threatens the komodo dragon habitat,” he says.

Further, Nonga deplores KLHK, as the holder of the conservation area authority, which opened its jurisdiction to other ministries. KLHK open their jurisdiction to other ministries such as the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment coordinator. The administration has paved the way for large investors to carry out developments that are not pro-conservation.

The impact of this tourism development, Nonga continues, has made the komodo dragons leave their habitat to go to other islands. The viral photograph of a komodo dragon blocking a truck is a sign of the komodo annoyance of the government’s “Jurassic Park” project in the komodo dragon conservation area of Rinca Island.

“It has become evident that the komodo dragon is disturbed by development activities there. The population of komodo dragons is only 3,000. At this time, the government should think more about protecting the population than building the Jurassic Park,” protests Nonga.

Baca juga: Indigenous Women Demand the State to Recognize Their Emission Reduction Efforts

PUPR Claims the Arrangement of Rinca Island Still Protects Komodo Habitat

The Rinca Island Jurassic Park Project’s implementation began after the signing of the collaboration between the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) and KLHK through the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) on July 15, 2020.

In his official press release, PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono says that infrastructure development in each National Tourism Strategy Area is planned in an integrated manner. It is including the arrangement of areas, roads, provision of raw water and clean water, waste management, sanitation, and improvement of residents’ housing through an infrastructure development master plan that considers environmental, social, and economic aspects.

The same press release states the Rinca Island project is entering the stage of demolishing the existing building and removing the debris; cleaning the pile cap and making piles. For worker safety and protection of the komodo dragons, fencing has been carried out at the board of directors’ office, workers’ sheds, materials, construction locations, information centers, and ranger lodging.

“We are always accompanied by a ranger from the komodo National Park so that the construction process of infrastructure and facilities does not damage or disturb the habitat of the Komodo dragons,” says the Head of the NTT Provincial Settlement Infrastructure Center, Herman Tobo.

The Environmental Permit for the Arrangement of the Rinca Island Area in Pasir Panjang Village, Komodo District, West Manggarai Regency, was issued on September 4, 2020. This permit is based on the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 16/2012 concerning Guidelines for the Preparation of Environmental Documents, which have considered the impact of development on the habitat and behavior of komodo dragons.

For information, to invite millions of foreign tourists, the government established ten National Tourism Strategic Areas (KSPN) or ten “new Bali” as stipulated in Presidential Regulation Number 3 of 2016. The only tourism on the island of Komodo-Labuan Bajo, Nusa Tenggara.

Reporter: Dewi Purningsih

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – The Paris Agreement dictates Indonesia to meet the target of reducing carbon gas emissions by 29 percent. The involvement of all parties is essential in meeting this target. On the other hand, indigenous peoples feel that the government overlooks their efforts to meet emission reduction targets. To the government’s eyes, indigenous peoples’ struggles, especially women from indigenous peoples, are non-existent. Indigenous women have the potential to solve problems rooted in carbon—namely, the issue of access and recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples.

That is the view of the Chairperson of the National Indigenous Peoples Association (AMAN), Devi Anggraeni. She voices her thought in a webinar Potensi Nilai Ekonomi Karbon dan Implementaasinya di Indonesia, Wednesday (21/10/2020). Anggraeni emphasizes that there will be no reduction in emissions from deforestation and forest degradation without recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights. No right, no reed.

Indigenous Women Have Significant Role in Indigenous Communities

Furthermore, in forestry conflicts, indigenous women are among the most vulnerable groups. It is although indigenous women are the key actors in reducing emissions. Anggraeni says, in everyday life, women hold the primary function in regulating indigenous communities’ survival.

“However, the perspective of indigenous women’s importance over land management in their customary territories is seldom heard of—both inside and outside the indigenous community itself,” Anggraeni protests.

Anggraeni testifies that indigenous peoples, especially indigenous women, have carried out the process of suppressing carbon emissions at a concrete level. She gives an example of indigenous women’s involvement in rehabilitating the former coal mining area in East Barito, Central Kalimantan. To do the reforestation, indigenous women grow used plants and plants for woven materials.

Further, Anggraeni urges the government to attend for indigenous peoples. The government’s presence is significant, especially in strengthening indigenous peoples’ capacity and financial assistance to reduce carbon emissions. Significantly, she continues, regarding the recognition and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples.

“If there is no protection of rights, it will be difficult to accept the (emission reduction) process. It will also be related to the recognition of customary territories. Give space to acknowledge indigenous peoples and indigenous women in their capability to develop nature management and customary territories,” says Anggraeni.

Also read: Farmers Empowerment Committee: The State Has a Large Debt to Indonesian Farmers

Carbon Economic Value to Reduce Emission

Other than addressing indigenous peoples’ role in emission reduction, the same event also discussed the Carbon Economic Value (NEK). NEK is a cost that must be paid for the existence of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, Assistant Special Envoy for the President for Climate Change Control (UKP-PPI) 2010-2019, Kuki Soejachmoen, explains that NEK could be one way for Indonesia to reach its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitment.

Soejachmoen argues that one of NEK’s applications is to apply a carbon tax by providing a specific price for GHG emissions according to the emissions produced.

The higher the emissions, the more expensive the payment,” Soejachmoen clarifies.

In its application, Soejachmoen continues, NEK utilizes the carbon market, which is used to facilitate transactions and transfers of GHG emission reduction. This carbon market consists of the international carbon market and the domestic carbon market. These two markets, he continues, can use both mandatory and voluntary transaction types. Thus, Indonesia can take advantage of the international carbon market but still prioritizes the domestic or national carbon market to achieve Indonesia’s NDC.

Soejachmoen pursues to mention requirements for the domestic market. The domestic carbon market requirements include setting national GHG emission limits, the stipulation of regulated sectors and emissions, emission permit allocation; flexibility in compliance; institutional behavior; utilization of government revenue from domestic carbon markets; and providing incentives for voluntary market players who will become suppliers of offsets.

“NEK and its instruments for the domestic market need and are important to be implemented to help achieve Indonesia’s NDC,” he concludes.

Reporter: Muhammad Ma’rup

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – Farmers play an important role to ensure food sovereignty. Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Considering the disruption of the global food chain, the fulfillment of food in each country maximizes each country’s food potential. Even so, the Indonesian government has not made serious efforts to protect farmers.

The agricultural expert from Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Prof. Dwi Andreas Santosa, conveys his views in the World Food Day webinar No Farmers, No Food, No Future, Friday (16/10/2020). Prof. Santosa states that the government’s protection for farmers is still not visible. This absence is mainly expressed in the government’s reluctance to protect the price of agricultural products. On the other hand, he continues, imported products still compete fiercely with farmers. Prof. Santosa argues that farmers need government intervention in determining the tariff policy for imported products.

“Imports of food products are getting higher. If the government does not implement the tariff policy, the price of imported products when they enter Indonesian soil can be equivalent to products from our farmers,” says Prof. Santosa.

Prof. Santosa then linked the welfare of the farmers with the Job Creation Law. According to him, under the Job Creation Law, the government will be increasingly neglecting farmers’ welfare conditions. The Job Creation Law opens the import tap to maximum, including imports of food products. Prof. Santosa predicts that uncontrolled imports will undoubtedly result in Indonesian farmers’ food products being less competitive.

“Almost all food is imported in Indonesia. The rates are almost all 0 percent or no tariffs. Almost all local commodities will lose. It will destroy our farmers,” says he.

Also read: Job Creation Law Offers Zero Percent Royalty for Mining Companies

Farmers Empowerment Committee Regrets The ‘Minimalist’ Incentives from the Government

Along with Prof. Santoso, who regrets the neglect of farmers’ welfare conditions, the Farmers Empowerment Committee (KPP), Khudori, echoes the same thing. Khudori then mentions his experience as a farmer during the 1998, 2008 crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. During these crises, he considers farmers to have a role in the domestic economy. Although he continues, there is nothing he can do about the government that overlooked this potential.

Khudori continues to mention some indicators that the government is overlooking farmers’ potentials. Khudori list some indicators such as the shrinking ownership of farmers’ land; farmers’ education that remains low; and farmers’ access to productive resources such as seeds, water, markets, capital, and technology that are not improving.

In a webinar commemorating World Food Day, Khudori, an activist of the Farmers Empowerment Committee voices his opinion about the state that has a large debt to farmers. Photo: Shutterstock.

As a farmer committee, Khudori assesses that state allowances for farmers are very minimal. If there is any, the government allowance never reaches all farmers on Tanah Air. On the other hand, he continues, the government does not guarantee that farmers would benefit from their hard work. Instead of hoping for a helping hand from the state, the farmers must fend for themselves when the price of the harvest falls.

“On the other hand, when farmers just started to enjoy a slight price increase, consumers make a fuss. The defense of the state is always biased towards consumers,” protests Khudori.

Khudori contrasts the condition of farmers in other countries, which he thinks are more prosperous thanks to the state’s presence in ensuring the welfare of farmers. According to him, in other countries, farmers and agriculture are glorified, protected, and not submitted to free-market mechanisms that often kill farmers.

“Here, the state does not reward farmers. The incentives received, including price incentives, are very inadequate. The state has a big debt to farmers who guarantee food,” he explains.

Also read: BMKG: Beware of La Nina Peak in December 2020, January 2021

Indonesian Farmers Need Land to Promote Innovation, Attract Millennials

On the same occasion, farmers from the Association of Climate Change Respondent Farmers (PPTPI), Nurkilah, voices the need for land. According to Nurkilah, to become accomplished farmers, farmers have to innovate a lot in agriculture to improve welfare. Farmers who are also landowners, he continues, get two benefits: they can produce food products and use the land as a medium for innovation.

Nurkilah and other farmers also developed the Field Scientific Stalls (WIL) to create the agricultural sector’s innovations. One of the reasons Nurkilah founded WIL is so that farmers understand agrometeorology or agroecosystems. Understanding agrometeorology or agroecosystems will help farmers’ cope with losses from climate change and the emergence of pests and diseases.

Furthermore, Nurkilah assesses that innovation could attract millennials to enter the agricultural sector. The millennial generation, he continues, can take part in training and production technology to improve the quality of agriculture. Thus, more and more millennials are interested in agriculture.

It can be applied to the younger generation through innovation to be happy with agricultural activities. So it is not monotonous like the activities nowadays,” Nurkilah concludes.

Reporter: Muhammad Ma’ruf

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed the peak of La Nina in December 2020 to January 2021. The rise of La Nina in this period coincides with the country’s entry into the rainy season. La Nina phenomenon shows rainfall of up to 40 percent in most parts of Indonesia. Furthermore, BMKG predicts Indonesia’s rainy season will peak in January and February 2021.

Head of BMKG Dwikorita Karnawati says historical records show La Nina caused an increase in Indonesia’s accumulated monthly rainfall. The increase in rainfall ranges from 20 percent to 40 percent above the standard limit, or even more. However, Dwikorita continues, the impact of La Nina is not uniform across Indonesia.

In October-November 2020, the BMKG predicts an increase in monthly rainfall in almost all Indonesia regions except Sumatra. Furthermore, from December to February 2021, an increase in precipitation due to La Nina is predicted to occur in eastern Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, North Maluku, and Papua.

“We need to be aware of the peak of La Nina and this rainy season. The rainy season is in the range of December, January, and February,” says Dwikorita after attending the Limited Meeting (Ratas) via a video conference on Hydrometeorological Disaster Anticipation, Tuesday (13/10/2020).

The Government Encourages Public to Use BMKG Online Application

The government, through the Head of BMKG, then appealed to the public to be aware of the impact of La Nina by monitoring the BMKG application. Through the BMKG application, people will be able to find out micro scale predictions and early warnings in their respective regions.

“For example, if you live in Johar District in DKI Jakarta. We also prepare forecasts, predictions, and early warnings for the micro-scale at the sub-district level. Please always check, always monitor the information that reaches the sub-district level through the mobile phone application ‘BMKG Info,'” says Dwikorta.

The head of BMKG encourages the public to download the BMKG online application to monitor weather conditions in the area where they live. Photo: Special.

In the mobile-based application, she continues, BMKG provides weather information for each district in all parts of Indonesia. The mobile-application prediction is good for the next seven days. Weather forecasts are updated every 3 to 6 hours. Also, BMKG collaborates with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) to urge local governments to ensure the public receives that information on weather developments. BKMG and BPBD also ask local governments to prepare anticipation steps for these developments.

Also read: Job Creation Law Offers Zero Percent Royalty for Mining Companies

President Joko Widodo urges his staff to anticipate La Nina Peak 2020-2021

In the Ratas, President Joko Widodo orders his staff to prepare and anticipate the possibility of a hydrometeorological disaster. He also asks for his instrument to monitor the impact of La Nina on various sectors in the country.

“The impact of La Nina on agricultural production, so that it is really calculated, (as well as) on the fisheries sector and also the transportation sector,” says President Jokowi.

President Joko Widodo instructed his staff to calculate and anticipate the impact of La Nina. Photo: Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia.

In facing the risk of natural disaster, the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Juliari P. Batubara explains that the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) is promoting a Community-Based Disaster Management (CBDM) Program. Juliari claims that his party has prepared 40,000 volunteers and equipped villages in disaster-prone areas.

The point is that these disaster-prone areas can rely on their communities at the time of disaster as well as disaster mitigation,” says Juliari.

Besides, the Ministry of Social Affairs also prepares logistics and equipment stocks. Both food and essential equipment needed during a disaster.

“We have three warehouses and are also equipped with several warehouses in the province that cooperate with the local government,” says Juliari.

The government, he continues, wants to ensure that the affected communities have access to necessities when a disaster strike. In addition, Juliari ensures that his party provides masks and personal protective equipment to have no transmission of Covid-19.

“Maybe we will cooperate with the Ministry of Health. Is it possible in refugee camps? If there are refugee camps in disaster areas, for example, can we do testing? It could be a rapid test or PCR,” added Juliari.

Also read: Experts: Job Creation Law Weakens Environmental Protection Efforts

BMKG Monitors La Nina with International Climate Service Centers

In early October 2020, BMKG and other climate service centers such as the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, United States; Bureau of Meteorology, Australia; Japan Meteorological Agency, Japan, has confirmed that La Nina phenomenon will occur at a moderate level following the start of the rainy season in Indonesia.

Until the end of September 2020, BMKG monitoring of global climate anomalies in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean showed the development of La Nina. The ENSO (El Nino-Southern Oscillation) index shows that sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific regions have been cold for six decades.

From the monitoring results, La Nina anomaly value has passed -0.5 ° C, which is the threshold for La Nina category. The development of the anomalous value of sea surface temperature in the central and eastern Pacific regions is -0.6 ° C in August and -0.9 ° C in September 2020.

Reporter: Dewi Purningsih

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – After the government and DPR RI gave mining entrepreneurs a red carpet through the revision of the Minerba (Minerals and Coal) Law, now in the Job Creation Law, the government is selling out Indonesia’s natural resources for free through 0 (zero) percent royalty.

Aryanto Nugroho, National Coordinator of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, explains the purpose of the 0 percent royalty. He clarifies there are two obligations of coal entrepreneurs regarding state revenue: royalties and taxes. Royalty is non-tax state revenue (PNBP) imposed at a specific rate for a certain calorie level.

“The zero percent royalty is given to coal entrepreneurs who increase their added value. In our opinion, this is a form of excessive incentives for coal entrepreneurs. Previously coal entrepreneurs have also been given many incentives in the new Minerba Law,” says Nugroho to Greeners Friday (09/10/2020).

The added value of coal, Nugroho defines, including coal development; coal upgrading; coal briquetting; coking; coal liquefaction; coal gasification including underground coal gasification; and a coal-water mixture (coal slurry / coal-water mixture). It includes the use of coal by building its own Steam Power Plant (PLTU) at the mine’s mouth.

“If PNBP claim royalties, it means that later it will be distributed to the regions into Profit Sharing Funds (DBH). Meanwhile, if the royalty is 0 percent per the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, this DBH for the regions will run out,” he argues.

Aryanto Nugroho, the National Coordinator for Publish What You Pay, assesses the 0 percent royalty as an excessive incentive for coal entrepreneurs. Data Source: Job Creation Law (1,052 pages version) / Graphic Designer: Order Dipo.

Also read: Motion of No Confidence, Indonesian People’s Faction Demands DPR to Cancel the Omnibus Law

NGO: Zero Percent Royalty, the Job Creation Law is Giving Away Coal

Auriga Nusantara Mining Researcher Iqbal Damanik says that the provision of 0 percent royalties is the same as giving coal free of charge to coal entrepreneurs, betraying the 1945 Constitution’s mandate.

Damanik adds that this incentive would encourage the rate of massive exploitation along with the destruction of living space and an uninhabitable environment. This situation is contrary to the Indonesian government’s intention to limit coal production, as outlined in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).

Iqbal Damanik, Auriga Nusantara Mining Researcher, says that this incentive will drive a massive exploitation rate that goes hand in hand with the destruction of living space and an uninhabitable environment. Photo: Shutterstock.

Since last year, he continues, many large coal companies had experienced financial difficulties even before the pandemic. These coal companies have debts that due in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Damanik mentions Moody’s Investor Services that reveals these companies’ total debt reaches USD 2.9 billion or around IDR 42 trillion, which will due in 2022 alone. These debts are in the form of bank credit and bonds.

Also read: Experts: Job Creation Law Weakens Environmental Protection Efforts

NGO: Our Country Would Lose Trillions of Rupiah

On the other hand, Damanik continues, through the Job Creation Law, Government is giving an up to 100 percent discount for companies to deposit royalties. It means that royalties’ relaxation will cause the country to lose potential revenue of up to USD 1.1 billion and USD 1.2 billion from taxes collected in 2019 from 11 coal companies.

“All this happens because the legislation on the Job Creation Law has been held hostage in a conflict of interest, the political and business oligarchic actors in the parliament have mixed up. As many as 50 percent of the DPR members and their leaders are also connected to the coal business. Even the Omnibus Law Task Force also contains commissioners and directors of coal companies. They will also benefit from the Job Creation Law policy itself,” says Merah Johansyah, Coordinator National Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam), which is also the spokesperson for #BersihkanIndonesia.

Johansyah says the royalty discount of up to 100 percent would benefit mining companies. By eliminating coal’s royalty for the sake of saving entrepreneurs, state, and regional revenues that have been dependent on coal will drop dramatically.

“At the same time, exploitation continues to occur in the regions. This regulation will also trigger the expansion of damage and environmental pollution. For example, mining pits and expulsion of people from their land. The cost of recovery is gone, and there are no funds because mining companies are given royalty discounts,” adds Johansyah.

Reporter: Dewi Purningsih

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – The Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) notes that the Omnibus Law on the Job Creation Law (UU Cipta Kerja) does not adopt the principles of sustainable environmental development. It is different from the previous law on natural resource management. ICEL concludes that the implementation of the Job Creation Law could weaken environmental protection instruments.

Instead of combining several laws, the Omnibus Law cuts through various basic environmental principles, whether in the context of environmental protection and management, forestry, plantations, spatial planning, or regional authority.

“If it is then summarized, the first thing that is most at risk of loss is reducing the principles of absolute responsibility and corporate crime. Regarding Article 88 of Law 32/2009, which in the end in the Omnibus Law has a sentence that is omitted ‘without needing to prove the element of error.’ That sentence makes the government’s decision and a lawsuit against the corporation,” says Campaign Manager for Water, Food, Essential Ecosystems, National Executive, Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), Wahyu Perdana, when contacted by Greeners by telephone, Wednesday (07/10/2020).

For example, Wahyu mentions the forest and land fire case. From 2015 to 2018, the government’s total winning deposit reached IDR 18 trillion. With sufficient and qualified laws, Wahyu continues, companies that pay the penalty is less than 1 percent. The Omnibus Law, he says, does not include the implementation of absolute responsibility to be fulfilled by the corporation. Instead, the Law cut corporate liabilities.

Wahyu Perdana assessed that the Omnibus Law does not include the implementation of absolute responsibility to be fulfilled by the corporation. Photo: Shutterstock.

Also read: Motion of No Confidence, Indonesian People’s Faction Demands DPR to Cancel the Omnibus Law

ICEL: Job Creation Law Reduces Access to Public Participation

Furthermore, ICEL issued an analysis entitled “Various Problems in the Environmental and Natural Resources Sector Job Creation Law.” ICEL’s Division Head of Environmental Management and Climate Justice of, Grita Anindarini (Aninda), says to check the validity of the Omnibus Law, which they analyze, ICEL monitored the DPR committee sessions through Parliament TV broadcasts and other Information channels.

“In this analysis, we focus on the articles of Law 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management in the Job Creation Law. From the beginning, there were no changes in articles 38 and 39. Namely the right of public access to participation, information, and justice, which experienced a significant reduction even to the elimination,” Aninda explains.

Aninda argues, the Job Creation Law significantly reduces access to public participation. Access is restricted to people who are directly affected. According to her, if it is related to the environment, the impact will be extensive.

ICEL: Job Creation Law Makes it Difficult for the Public to Sue

The ICEL analysis also found access to information, including all environmental permit approvals, will be announced online. It is counterproductive considering that many Indonesians do not have internet access. Aninda emphasizes that access to information should be accepted and understood by the community in an easier way.

“The worst thing is that the information provided is only the final environmental approval information. Whereas in Law 32/2009, access to information is mandatory from the initial application to the final process, which must be announced. So, people have started knowing from the start if there is development or environmental problems around them,” she explains.

Aninda adds, the removal of environmental permits also had an impact on the potential for loss of public access to sue. Including the failure of the opportunity to participate in filing objections and an Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal) assessment. Even more worrying, she continues, the Job Creation Law also removed the exception to the prohibition of burning for traditional farming communities. It has the potential for criminalization and shifting of the burden of responsibility.

Also read: Research: Indonesian Banks Invest in Deforestation Risk Sectors

ICEL: Sustainable Environmental Development Declined

Law no. 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry is another case, Aninda begins. The main problem with the Job Creation Law when contrasted with this law, she says, is the removal of the minimum limit of 30 percent of forest areas based on watersheds and islands. Also, there are exceptions for indigenous peoples who use forests in forest areas. The customary community who uses the forest is given a prerequisite to have done this for five consecutive years and is registered in the forest area management policy.

Aninda argues that the implementation of sustainable development principles in the Job Creation Law has seen a decline. For example, if you compare the Job Creation Law with Law no. 26 of 2007 concerning Spatial Planning. The government provides various privileges to the National Strategic Project (PSN), including to crash the national spatial planning. In comparison, the National Spatial Planning (RTRW) was prepared by taking the environment capacity into account.

ICEL: The Job Creation Law accelerates the Forest Destruction Sector Permit

ICEL analysis also compares the Job Creation Law with PP No. 24 of 2018 concerning Electronically Integrated Business Licensing Services (PP OSS), which weakens the position of Amdal from the requirements for issuing permits to fulfilling commitments that can be done after the license is issued.

Amid environmental damage in various industrial and infrastructure development projects, the Job Creation Law degrades environmental permits. The Law turns environmental permits into Environmental Agreements as a condition for business licensing. The Job Creation Law does not even require all activities to seek “permits”, depending on the risks whose prerequisites are not yet exact.

“In the end, various leniency in environmental requirements for business actors in the Job Creation Law has the potential to create negative externalities that threaten justice for future generations. Indonesia is experiencing various environmental crises,” says Aninda.

Apart from forest fires, pollution, and environmental damage due to mining continues to occur. As of February 2020, 37 people died from drowning in the former excavation of a mine hole in the East Kalimantan Province. UU no. 3/2020 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining provides a “red carpet” for mining business actors. Meanwhile, the Job Creation Law delivers a 0 percent royalty stimulus for coal entrepreneurs to increase added value.

Reporter: Dewi Purningsih

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – Various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are members of the Indonesian People’s Faction submitted a motion of no confidence over the Omnibus Law’s ratification. NGOs consider the Omnibus Law threats the sustainability of workers, farmers, fishermen, indigenous people, and women. Omnibus Law is also absent in ensuring that people get sustainable benefits from the potential of natural resources.

Amid the rejection, the Indonesian Parliament (DPR RI) Plenary Session chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the DPR Azis Syamsuddin, has ratified the Omnibus Law on the Work Creation Bill (RUU) into law.

The agreement was taken at the plenary meeting held at the DPR Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (5/10/2020). This meeting was accelerated after previously being scheduled for Wednesday, October 8. Also attending the plenary session: Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlanga Hartarto; Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah; Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya; Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati; Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian; Minister of Agrarian Spatial Planning/National Defense Agency Sofyan Djalil; and Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly.

Also read: Research: Indonesian Banks Invest in Deforestation Risk Sectors

DPR: The Work Creation Omnibus Bill Is Now Omnibus Law

The DPR RI Leadership Coordinator for Political and Security Affairs (Korpolkam) requested the DPR Members’ approval to ratify the Job Creation Bill into Law.

“We need to convey it based on what we have seen together. Once again, I ask for approval at this plenary meeting forum. Do you agree? “Azis asks. “Agreed,” reply to the representatives of the people who were present both physically and virtually.

The Chairman of the Legislative Body of the DPR RI, Supratman Andi Agtas, conveyed the main points in discussing the Inventory of Problems(DIM). Among other things, DIM includes the ease in registering Intellectual Property Rights (HAKI), as well as the ease in establishing a Private Public Company (PT) at a low cost.

“The Job Creation Law also applies regulations regarding the ease of doing business in the economic zone, the implementation of central government investment, and national strategic projects. As well as government administration services to facilitate bureaucratic procedures to create work,” explains Supratman.

Balinese traditional fishermen fishing in the shallow waters of Nusa Dua Beach, Bali (28/4/2013). YLBHI emphasizes that the Omnibus Law perpetuates strategic projects that neglect sustainable development and end the livelihoods of fishermen and farmers. Photo: Shutterstock.

Motion of No Confidence, YLBHI: Omnibus Law Brings Flood of Environmental Destructive Investments

On the other hand, the Chairperson of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Asfinawati believes the Omnibus Law’s dream of investment would not be the national economy’s savior. The Omnibus Law, she continues, provides convenience in licensing for a few groups of entrepreneurs who are cronies of officials and DPR members who expand corruption.

“It is clear that every article in the Omnibus Law shows that the state ignores the people’s right to live in dignity and is accelerating environmental destruction,” she says at the virtual press conference #BatalkanOmnibusLaw, Monday (05/10/2020).

Asfin continues, the Omnibus Law ratification provoked a flood of investment with questionable quality. Most of the investments are cloaked in the national lighthouse project’s acceleration under the guise of strategic development, which makes the community unable to maintain their livelihoods.

For example, she says, a national strategic project in the form of constructing a new international port and airport. These strategic projects include West Java Kertajati Airport, Yogyakarta International Airport, Kuala Tanjung International Port, Makassar New Port, and new tourist destinations, such as Labuan Bajo, which neglect sustainable development and the livelihoods of fishermen and farmers.

Solidaritas Perempuan reveals the Omnibus Law will deepen and expand agrarian conflicts, where women often experience intimidation and multiple layers of violence. Photo: Shutterstock.

Also read: BMKG: Forest Fires Worsen Ozone Depletion

Motion of No Confidence, Solidaritas Perempuan: ‘Omnibus Law Harms Us All’

Voicing her rejection, Program Coordinator of the National Executive Agency for Solidaritas Perempuan (Women’s Solidarity), Arieska Kurniawaty, states that the Omnibus Law is detrimental to all parties, especially the agricultural sector.

“Who loses the most with the Omnibus Law? We all. For example, the Omnibus Law allows entrepreneurs to enjoy 90 years of direct business use rights (HGU). Whereas previously, it was only 25 or 35 years with an extension of 25 years if the company met the requirements. Of course, this will further deepen and expand agrarian conflicts, where women often experience intimidation and multiple layers of violence,” says Arieska.

Arieska mentions the indigenous women of Pubabu. The authority threat these women with criminalization because they took off their clothes when dealing with security forces. Just like this example, Arieska continues, the Omnibus Law threatens food sovereignty because of the provisions that equalize domestic food production and national food reserves with food imports as a source of the food supply.

The domestic market will be flooded with imported food, while the government continues to erase farmers’ and fishers’ subsidies. Moreover, most women food producers are subsistence producers. Therefore, the Indonesian People’s Faction declared a motion of no confidence in the Omnibus Law to the DPR and the government. The Indonesian People’s Faction is demanding to cancel the Omnibus Law on Job Creation.

Reporter: Dewi Purningsih

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – Forests and Finance, an organization that exposes the risk of deforestation by banks and investors, reveals money invested in Indonesian Financial Services Institutions (LJK) harms the environment. In “Is Your Money Destroying or Violationg Right” discussion (22/09/20), researchers found four Indonesian banks are part of Southeast Asia’s biggest creditors for the deforestation risk sectors.

These four largest Indonesian creditors are Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Bank Nasional Indonesia (BNI), Bank Mandiri, and Bank Central Asia (BCA). Three of the four banks are State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN). The Indonesian bank giants fund sectors that are at risk of destroying forests. The deforestation risk sectors are the pulp and paper, palm oil, rubber, timber, and soybean sectors.

Raksasa bank tanah air danai sektor risiko deforestasi. (Sumber data: Forests and Finance).

Transformation for Justice (TuK), Rainforest Action Network (RAN), and Profundo are some of the organizations involved in Indonesia’s data collection.

“Public can see all data on financial institution funding for companies related to sectors and their impact on the environment on the Forests and Finance website. However, we do not have all the companies’ data,” said TuK Executive Director, Edi Sutrisno, to Greeners.co (29/09/20).

Also read: Experts: Rhino Population in Indonesia Less than One Hundred

Indonesian Bank Giants Score Bad on Policy Assessment

Furthermore, Forests and Finance data shows the four major Indonesian banks that invest in deforestation risk sectors also score low on policy and transparency. Edi emphasizes the importance of openness to the public.

“The majority of LJKs do not know their clients, their subsidiaries, and the supply chains of the group companies. This is not only the responsibility of LJK and the Financial Services Authority (OJK), but it requires synergy with other parties,” Edi argues.

Kebijakan Lembaga Jasa Keuangan (LJK) Indoonesia dinilai buruk. (Data: Forests and Finance).

According to Edi, OJK should encourage other state institutions such as the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Defense Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to ensure companies are transparent in reporting their business entities.

Edi also hopes that LJK will not only focus on the company but also pay attention to the company’s commitment to the conservation of flora and fauna.

Also read: BMKG: Forest Fires Worsen Ozone Depletion

Researcher: ‘Some Data is Not Recorded’

Echoing Edi’s statement, RAN’s Responsible Finance Senior Campaigner, Hana Heineken, states the importance of data transparency from LJK.

“The issue of investment and forests continues to increase from time to time. We can monitor this issue, like bank policies, from the Forests and Finance data. The data will continue to be updated to see whether there are changes or not,” says Hana.

Speaking on the same topic, Ward Warnerdan from Profundo acknowledges the difficulty of obtaining data from the country.

“The data collection process in this study encountered several obstacles. Not all data can be easily obtained because some data is not recorded,” says Ward at the same event.

In presenting the data, Ward continues, there were several processes. It begins by listing the companies according to the existing sector. The data is then managed using a methodology divided into three: deal contributions, segment adjusters, and geographic adjusters.

Reporter: Maria Soterini

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – Experts at the 2019 Emergency Action Plan (EAP) workshop predicted the sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) population drop to less than one hundred. This number is less than the notes on the Indonesian Rhino Strategy and Action Plan (SRAK) compiled in 1990. According to the note, as many as 400 Sumatran rhinos were estimated to have lived in Indonesia from 1993 to 2003.

The sink in sumatran rhino population is due to animal hunting and trading; habitat degradation and fragmentation; and diseases of the reproductive system. Experts also stressed the need for the real quick action and the collaboration of all parties to prevent the sumatran rhino’s extinction. Furthermore, experts hope that the step will restore the rhino population to a safe level.

Rudi Putra, Chairman of The Board of Leuser Conservation Forum Foundation, said that his team finds more than five thousand traps and snares in the last five years. He also mentions other factors that destroy rhino habitat, including deforestation and encroachment.

“Another problem is the small population. In Leuser, there are four sub-populations, three of which including the sumatran rhino. From these sub-populations, there is no indication of breeding. No more children were found. This indicates that, if we don’t save them, the animal will become extinct,” explains Rudi at the World Rhino Day Commemoration Webinar: Save the Last Sumatran Rhino Population, Tuesday (22/09/2020).

Also read: Jatam: Governor’s Circle Allegedly Behind the Sea Sand Mining

KLHK: ‘Do Not Let Bureaucracy Hinder Rhino Rescue’

To save the sumatran rhino population, the Indonesian government compiled the 2018-2021 Sumatran Rhino Population’s EAP. Director-General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), Wiratno, assessed that the EAP is a strategic and revolutionary step with a high priority to save the sumatran rhino from extinction.

The 2018-2021 EAP to Save the Sumatran Rhino Population includes the development of the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Aceh and West Kutai, semi-natural breeding, monitoring, and protecting habitat population. The EAP also works as the initiation and establishment of the intensive protection zone. Further, Wiratno acknowledges saving rhinos as a tremendous job.

“In rhino conservation, the symptoms of the problem lie outside. Our actions must be based on a broader analysis. If you have to take quick action, you don’t need too much bureaucracy. You can just get permission and contact me. By building conservation partnerships gradually, through group and community awareness, we will lead to collective conservation action,” said Wiratno.

“Don’t let the bureaucracy get in the way by being too verbose. The rescue efforts could lose momentum. We don’t want that to happen,” he adds.

Wiratno announces no other solution to save rhinos other than implementing comprehensive protection in priority areas for rhino conservation. Besides, according to him, communication and local government support are the essential steps in the conservation program. He continues, local governments must be aware and proud of their area that has a global species icon.

KLHK: Tidak ada solusi lain untuk penyelamatkan badak selain permbelakuan proteksi secara menyeluruh di lokasi prioritas pelestarian badak. Foto: Dirjen KSDAE KLHK.

East Aceh Committed to Build a Rhino Sanctuary

Furthermore, to support the construction of a sumatran rhino sanctuary in East Aceh, the Regent of East Aceh, Hasballah Bin H.M. Thaib, issued recommendations for approval and location for the development of the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary No. 522.5.4 / 6307 on July 20, 2020. The construction site for the sumatran rhino sanctuary is around 7,302 hectares.

Hasballah claims Aceh as a province that took part in the emergency action to save the sumatran rhino from 2018 to 2021. Hasballah and his team have conducted a field survey to find the sanctuary location. From the survey, his team found that Aloer Timur, East Aceh, fit the criteria. The second alternative is the Trenggulun-1 area. Meanwhile, the Trenggulun-2 area was not included in the recommendation because of the many encroachment cases and land clearing activities.

“Every year, fourteen rhinos die because of conflicts with the community. We are fully committed to building the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in East Aceh district. On September 19, 2020, we have also installed a notice board for the location of the Sumatran Rhino Conservation activity,” Hasballah explains.

Also read: Weather Modification Might Alter Flooding

Tropical Forest Conservation Action Prepares Hundreds of Billion for Rhino Conservation

Speaking at the same event, Executive Director of Keanekaragaman Hayati Indonesia Foundation (Kehati), Riki Frindos, clarifies the number of funds prepared to support the Save the Rhino Population EAP. Through the Tropical Forest Conservation Action (TFCA) program in Sumatra and Kalimantan, it is known that the funds prepared for the protection of species are IDR 100 billion for Sumatra and IDR 16 billion in Kalimantan.

“Kehati Foundation, through partners at the local level and other parties, will continue to support the biodiversity conservation program in Indonesia. Including the rescue of the sumatran rhino, both in Sumatra and Kalimantan. For this goal to be realized, we hope that the EAP that has been prepared can be in line with the regional government’s medium and long-term development plans,” says Frindos.

Frindos continues to explain his program with TFCA Sumatra to support the recovery of the sumatran rhino population. First, massively and intensively protecting the rhino population in their natural habitat to breed naturally. To support this program, his party formed a patrol team and increased patrol members’ capacity through various training facilities. His party also engaged with local communities to develop the patrol team.

Second, Kehati and TFCA provide accurate data of the sumatran rhino population. This effort is essential for making the right conservation decisions. To update the data, Frindos adds, partners conducted an occupancy survey to determine the distribution areas of rhinos in three national parks: Gunung Leuser, Way Kambas, and Bukit Barisan Selatan. To support survey activities, TFCA Sumatra has provided 317 camera traps over three national parks.

Furthermore, they also rescued isolated rhinos. Their team will facilitate the rhino semi-natural breeding in specific locations known as the sanctuary.

Badak sumatra berperan dalam regenerasi hutan. Foto: Shutterstock.

Sumatran Rhino Roles in Forest Regeneration

For the sumatran rhino rescue program in Kalimantan, Kehati and TFCA Kalimantan managed to save a live specimen of a female sumatran rhino named Pahu. The grant recipient from ALeRT (Alliance for Sustainable Rimba Terpadu) rescued Pahu from the forest area of Kampung Besiq, Damai District, East Kalimantan. Until this news was released, Pahu was observed to be in good health and weighing up to 360 kilograms.

On the commemoration of World Rhino Day on September 22, Frindos hopes that the public will increasingly realize the importance of rhino conservation for Indonesia. This critical animal consumes young shoots, which help the forest regeneration process because it supports new shoots from the leaves it eats.

Thanks to their ability to walk in an extended range of roads, the rhino is also a seed-dispersing agent. Rhino is dispersing the forest through seeds that attach to its body. In its journey, the rhino also opens a pathway from thick vegetation to other wildlife.

Author: Dewi Purningsih and Zury Muliandari

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) asserts that land and forest fires affect the ozone layer’s condition. Fires release smoke with organic compounds into the atmosphere. This compound lasts a long time, worsen ozone depletion. Other factors, such as the climate crisis, are also causing the thinning of the ultraviolet radiation-resistant layer.

“Land and forest fires worsen the condition of the ozone layer. However, the corona pandemic has reduced human activity. It automatically helps the process of restoring the ozonosphere,” says Kadarsah, Head of BMKG Climate Change Analysis, to Greeners (21/09/2020).

According to the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Bukit Kototabang, West Sumatra, Kadarsah continues, BMKG notes that ozone concentrations increased in August. Kadarsah argues, the increase in ozone depletion is possibly due to hotspots in some locations.

“Hotspot in August is very high. There is a possibility that it affects the ozone layer. However, it still needs to be investigated,” she explains.

Further, Kadarsah mentions the catastrophic fires had prompted a giant pyrocumulonimbus cloud that could last for months and destroy the ozonosphere. Additionally, fires also produce hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) or freons that can perforate the ozone layer.

“Forest fires also release methane gas, a greenhouse gas that is twenty-one times more toxic than carbon dioxide. This compound is harmful to ozone,” she adds.

Also read: Indigenous Community Demands Local Regulation to Claim Customary Forests

Konsentrasi harian ozon pada Agustus 2020 di Stasiun Pemantau Atmosfer Global (GAW) Bukit Kototabang, Sumatera Barat. Sumber: Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG).

Climate Crisis Aggravates the Ozone Depletion

Program Director of  Alam Sehat Lestari Foundation (ASRI), Mahardhika Putra Purba, affirms that the climate crisis aggravates the ozone depletion.

“Some factors that cause climate change are namely mining, industry, agriculture, transportation, and fires,” Purba says on a conference talk Rawat Bumi yang Merawat Kita (Caring the Earth that Cares for Us), Wednesday (16/9).

He said the stratosphere’s ozone layer serves as a barrier between Earth and the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Currently, the ozone condition is running low due to chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in the form of chlorine, fluorine, carbon, and aerosols.

“CFC gas is dangerous because it is durable. It is also damages the environment quickly,” he explains.

When fluorine is exposed to sunlight, he continues, the compound will separate from its molecular structure. As a result, other compounds such as chlorine forms a new reaction with oxygen and separate ozone from each other.

“When ozone, which consists of three oxygens, releases one of the oxygens, the chlorine forms a reaction with oxygen that will last a long time and causes the ozone layer to become thin,” he said.

Also read: NGO: Hotspots Increase over Two Decades

MontiR-AC: Effort to Reduce the Ozone Depletion

Meanwhile, in commemoration of International Ozone Day 2020, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) signed a certification scheme for refrigeration and air conditioning technicians. In the Ozone for a Life event (16/9), the government launched MontiR-AC. MontiR-AC is an application that helps technicians to find air conditioners servicing’s gigs easier. This app also allows consumers to find competent technicians in their neighborhood easily.

“Preparing competent Refrigeration and Air Conditioner (RAC) technicians is an effort to reduce ozone depletion,” said KLHK Director General of Climate Change Control Ruandha Agung Sugardiman.

According to him, these efforts will help technicians to service RAC properly. It can also avoid the release of refrigerant into the air, which results in the depletion ozonosphere. By performing the correct service, Sugadirman continues, machine life can be prolonged. Eventually, it will save energy consumption from the equipment.

Author: Maria Soterini

Editor: Devi Anggar Oktaviani/Ixora Devi (Eng.)