Understanding the Relationship between Forest Communities and the Environment in East Java, Indonesia

Posted: 11 Oct 2012

See all articles by Florie Chazarin

Florie Chazarin

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: October 10, 2012

Abstract

Deforestation in Indonesia is a major problem. In order to mitigate the devastating pace at which trees are being cut down the Forestry Department on Java and Madura Islands came up with a programme (Perhutani) that involves the local rural communities. Forest dwelling people have been greatly affected by the reduction of tree cover areas as they greatly depend on the forest and its derived products for survival. The research undertaken in two communities of East Java, Indonesia, focuses on the relationship between the forest and the rural people relying on it. The themes that arose from the data collected over a period of six weeks were not necessarily directly linked to the forest, rather to global issues and debates. Dominant themes such as people having a strong sense of community, and the idea of acting locally before considering pursuing at a larger scale emerged. An unexpected outcome of the analysis was that interviewed members of both communities were more worried about taking care of the forest than about deforestation itself. This was then linked to the notion of them being aware of the threatening consequences the action of cutting trees is. The dissertation concludes on the importance of involving community members in the process of decision making as they are the ones directly affected by forestry policies and they can have positive inputs on the way the forest should be managed.

Keywords: forest, Indonesia, rural community, deforestation, climate change, policies

Suggested Citation

Chazarin, Florie, Understanding the Relationship between Forest Communities and the Environment in East Java, Indonesia (October 10, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2159726

Florie Chazarin (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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