Threat of Forest Degradation in Ex-Forest Concession Right (HPH) in Indonesia

Abstract

Production forests in Indonesia have long been managed and used economically to improve people's welfare and fund the government. As part of this process, large, medium, and small companies were granted concession rights, but for various reasons, many companies have had their licenses terminated. There is evidence of illegal activities after such terminations, often causing forest degradation and deforestation in the former concession-rights areas. This study describes a case of illegal forest and land utilization in two former concession-rights areas located in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The assessment was over a seven-month period and used a qualitative approach to gather data, including participant observation and in-depth interviews combined with geographical spatial analysis. The study found that forests in both locations were converted from natural land functions to agricultural use, forest gardens, and open land after the concession rights had been terminated, but illegal logging and land-clearing activities were also reported.

Pressure to convert forest lands often comes from people who are not local to the forest area; they often collaborate with local people by promising them expansion of their own lands into the former logging locations. Acceptance of this type of offer can be seen as a form of adaptation strategy because the indigenous people adapt to the circumstances as they try to hold onto the land. Of interest in this process is that if an area becomes sufficiently damaged, the government may change the status of the area from “state forest” to “non-forest,” a designation that makes it easier for local people to access and claim the land in the future.