Regional ordinances in Java still not eco-friendly: study

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Over two-thirds of 278 existing regional ordinances across Java island are not eco-friendly, allowing locals to exploit natural resources without environmental controls, a study has said.

The 2007 study, conducted by Hariadi Kartodiharjo of the office of the coordinating minister for the economy, found most local authorities issued ordinances focused on raising cash for their budgets.

"The ordinances are oriented mainly on business permits, tax and the use of natural resources, without examining environmental limits," he said.

It said 60 percent of the reviewed ordinances did not calculate environmental impacts from exploitation activities of natural resources.

"The regional ordinances did not examine impacts on water resources or the maximum limit of water that could be drilled," he said.

The study also checked whether local administrations had used public or non-governmental organizations to enforce the ordinances.

"Most of 'exploitative' ordinances don't involve the public and activists," he said.

The study will be presented to the coordinating minister for the economy Feb. 21.

A year earlier, Hariadi reviewed 109 ordinances, about 60 percent of which were deemed not eco-friendly.

"I think the government should formulate standards of the ordinances that also would protect the environment," he said.

Many criticized the regional ordinances for creating a high cost economy that disrupted the business climate.

"The Home Affairs Ministry has annulled thousands of regional ordinances that violated the (higher) law and caused a high cost economy," he said.

"But the office has yet to review the impacts of ordinances on environmental conditions," he added.

Hariadi, who is also chairman of the National Forestry Council, said the regional ordinances could play a crucial role in protecting the environment, particularly in the aftermath of regional autonomy.

The autonomy law gives power to local administrations to manage their areas and raise money for their budgets.

A series of natural disasters, including floods, landslides and drought hit the country every year.

Experts predicted natural disasters would become increasingly common due to the poor land-use management across the country.

"We often hear high-ranking officials order the people to plant more trees in response to natural disasters.... It seems very easy but they forget they are facing ordinances which are not pro-environment," he said.

A study by the state minister for the environment previously indicated Java was the area most prone to water-related disasters. It said 603 areas in East Java, 531 in Central Java and 430 in West Java were very vulnerable to floods and landslides.

West Java experienced 77 landslides between 2003 and 2005, killing 166 people.

Hariadi said he would also analyze regional ordinances related to the country's forestry sector this year.

The National Forestry Council and the Nature Conservancy (TNC) signed a memorandum of understanding to promote good governance and policy in the forest sector.

The TNC said by 2015 it would work with 180 forest concessions (HPH), mainly in Kalimantan, Papua and Sulawesi, to promote effective forest conservation.

"We have so far cooperated with nine HPH holders to promote forest conservation," TNC country director Rili Djohani said.