Forests Of Borneo

August 21, 2011
Many indigenous cultures such as the Dayaks in Borneo, Indonesia are threatened by deforestation. Most Dayak people spend everyday farming their land. The community grows bamboo on land they see as theirs and always have, but even this indigenous communities land is not virgin to deforestation, though it was reforested with more useful plants and trees. The community only has a small patch of virgin land they see as theirs that is only used for prayer. Little does this community know even though Indonesian laws and policies give them rights to this land, the constitution says all their land and resources belong to the state.

Some farmers choose to sell their land, such as Lambia Sudian. He sold his land to a company that offered him a job working in the field. The company also said he would receive 20% of the palm oil profits. Four years have gone by and Lambia says he regrets selling his land because none of the companies statements were true. "In the future, the children and grandchildren of the indigenous people will not own these lands, they will become beggars or criminals, because the bounty before their eyes is no longer theirs." he said.

Conservationist believe it would be a difficult task to restore Borneo's rainforest, but reforesting would help developing communities and create a smaller carbon output. Currently 60% of Borneo's rainforest has been deforested, while only 8% remain virgin.

"Forests are a means for the power holder to maintain his power, by giving concessions to the military commander in the regions, governors or those who can support the regime, you cut trees, you got money, OK? And it's been practiced like that for 40 years." - Andy White - A coordinator at the Washington, D.C.-based Rights and Resources Initiative, a coalition of groups focusing on land rights.

What are other counties doing about deforestation problems?