A Review of Forest and Land Fire Programs: How Lessons from the Past Should Inform Future Fire Management in Indonesia

Abstract

The article assesses forest and land fire programs in Indonesia in general and factors which have hindered the formulation and implementation of effective programs involving all stakeholders, as well as drawing lessons from the past to prevent, mitigate and stop the occurrence of forest and land fires. Findings indicate that, while lessons learned are many and varied, sustaining support for forest fire programs after peak periods in fires (for instance during 1997-1998 period) is no mean feat.The multiplicity of forest and land fire management programs is also another intractable problem. The diversity of program implementers with their respective interests, motivations, and objectives means that coordination is extremely difficult. Differences in priorities between the central government and regional governments where forest and land fire programs are implemented are yet another recurrent problem that has remained elusive. Poor coordination compounded by non-involvement of some key actors in the formulation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of forest and land fire management programs, has had the implication that most programs have by and large been project oriented, rather than being part and parcel of an integrated, sustainable resource management and development policy at both the central and local government level.Doubtless, program effectiveness and acceptability have been undermined. Ownership of forest fire programs does not go beyond those directly involved in implementing them, making their sustainability at best difficult and at worst, impossible. Equally important is the recurrent theme that bedevils all disaster management in Indonesia, which is the over emphasis on emergency response. The paradigm shift as manifested in Act No. 24/2007, which arguably is supposed to improve disaster management by integrating it into development planning at the national and local government level, guarantee funding in national and regional government budgets, and establishment of regional disaster management chapters has yet to show improvement in higher effectiveness of disaster management at all levels. Bickering between various components at the central government level, as well as those in regional governments, means that concerted action is still not possible. The delineation of roles and responsibilities of central government agencies and those in the regional governments is still murky making it liable to different interpretations depending on who one talks to. In the meantime, forest and land fires continue to burn invaluable forests and landscape each yea, albeit at modest rates.Low sense of belonging among the local population for forests and landscape in their vicinity, implies that they don’t feel duty bound to protect the forests and landscape and attendant biodiversity. Poor forestry management practices, which have become a common feature of forest concession holders, do not make things any better. Poor forest management practices, which are compounded by woeful lack of supervision, monitoring and evaluation of activities of local communities but more importantly, plantation operators, logging companies and pulp and paper companies to ensure that they live to their declared rules of engagement in land preparation, planting, logging timber, transportation and marketing of produce. Collusion among local forest community leaders, law enforcement, local and central government officials and concessionaires companies, is another serious problem that affects the formulation, implementation, and sustaining of effective forest management practices in Indonesia.