The Indonesian government regulates forest and land governance policies through Presidential Instruction No. 6 of 2017 concerning a moratorium on granting new permits on primary natural forests and peatlands, restoration of West Papua deforestation in the area priority, evaluation of 268 IUPHHK-HTI and evaluation of mining business permits in forest areas through the Coordination and Supervision (Korsup) of the KPK with ministries/agencies and local governments.
How West Papua Deforestation Prevented
One of the efforts to prevent West Papua deforestation and forest degradation in Indonesia is to involve the community in forest monitoring. Participating communities are better able to explain the forest’s state in their own context, and they may also report directly on deforestation. Geographic Information System (GIS) technology can assist the community in monitoring. Participating communities are better able to explain the forest’s state in their own context, and they may also report directly on deforestation.
Community Forest Deforestation Monitoring West Papua Deforestation
The Indonesian government regulates forest and land governance policies through Presidential Instruction No. 6 of 2017 concerning a moratorium on granting new permits to primary and natural forests peatland, peatland restoration in priority areas, evaluation of 268 IUPHHK-HTI and evaluation of mining business permits in forest areas through the Coordination and Supervision (Korsup) of the KPK with ministries/agencies and local governments.
These policies demonstrate the government’s seriousness toward good land and forest governance. If management is not capable enough, the issuance of mining/plantation permits may result in deforestation, forest and land degradation.
Deforestation in Papua Land: Political Dynamics
It is known in the Special Autonomy Law for Papua Province that the Land of Papua is unique, or a combination of Papua Province and West Papua Province. However, this law is not fully enforceable due to conflicts with other regulations, such as the Regional Government Law and/or sectoral regulations, so it is not clear which regulation is lex specialis, including the regulation on West Papua deforestation.
The inaccuracy of the national legislative process, especially in measuring its impact
and the transition process, also contributes to unstable forest management. The Regional Government Law, for example, arbitrarily transfers the authority of the district government to the provincial government in forest management, or the Minerba Law which takes over the authority of the local government in the mining sector. Things like this create a vacuum for effective managers in the field.
Forest Removal: Reservation for West Papua Deforestation?
By relying on regional regimes, not on cover, West Papua deforestation cannot necessarily be an illegal action in Indonesia. Deforestation is possible as long as a permit is issued or carried out based on the authorities’ policy.
The lease-to-use forest area permit for mining operations is an example of legal deforestation. Deforestation by strategic development projects is also possible, including the policy of releasing forest areas for non-forestry purposes.
Issuing a total of 72 decrees for the release of forest areas (PKH) in Tanah Papua the minister of forestry in the period 1992 – 2019, a total of 1,549,205 hectares. The agricultural sector is the main destination for the release, covering an area of 1,461,577 hectares. The development of oil palm plantations is the main goal of
releasing forest areas for the agricultural sector, covering an area of 1,307,780 hectares, or 84% of the total forest area released in Tanah Papua.
