I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to talk to Chai Chin, one of the Eco-Warriors involved in DeforestAction, before she left for the second leg of the project. The interview, which provides further insights into the situation in West Kalimantan, is as follows:
Q1. To begin, I was hoping you could share some personal reflections about your participation in the DeforestAction project in Sintang last year.
A: The 20 days was an eye-opener, venturing to places in the heart of West Kalimantan, meeting local communities and seeing first-hand the impact of palm oil and encroachment of companies was having on them.
The 20 days were an orientation of sorts for the rest of the 80 days, and was hence insufficient to understand how the local government and communities function, and more importantly, interact. I was hoping to also get the perspective of lawmakers like the Bupati, and to understand his relationship with the Dayaks. It would also have been useful to have been able to meet representatives from palm oil companies to get their side of the story. However, this was not possible due to a lack of access or limited opportunities for interaction. Maybe there will be such opportunities during the 80 days.
One thing in particular that struck me was that people are very much part of the equation. Conservation is not just about species like the orang-utans and their natural habitats, we must also consider how local communities have a right to progress and make a living. Part of our efforts, therefore, was to promote a sustainable livelihood for local communities, in this case, through sugar palm.
Q2. There is a danger of romanticising traditional ways of life. In your article, you wrote about sacred burial grounds and shifting cultivation – but is this what the Dayaks are really like, or are we imposing our own preconceptions about culture and tradition upon them?
A:
The Dayaks retain traditional practices and seemed proud of them – for example, dances and other ceremonies to welcome honoured guests. Some of the Dayak villages we went to were only accessible by river but many locals have mobile phones.
Any change to their traditions should come from them. The problem when palm oil companies come knocking – as documented in some research papers and witnessed by us to some extent – is that the villagers aren’t always told the truth. We encountered some villagers who said they had not been properly compensated for their land by a palm oil company, and heard accounts of palm oil companies creating divisions in village life by playing off certain individuals against others.
Villagers who sign away their land to engage in palm oil typically have to borrow money to buy saplings and fertilisers. But palm oil trees only start being productive a few years down the road, and that’s how a debt spiral occurs – to the detriment of any community.
The palm oil companies also bring some Javanese migrants in to work at the plantations.
So I think that’s how the cultural core is eroded when palm oil companies take over their land - debt, tensions and the increased presence of outsiders all bring about changes in their way of life which affect tradition and culture.
Q3. Do the Dayaks wish to maintain their current way of life? Some sold their land away to palm oil companies for jobs and income.
I may not be the best person to tackle this question, but I believe any additional income that they might earn is probably always welcome; everyone wants a better life. However, the palm oil companies frequently do not keep their promises of jobs and income.
We should also realise that the Dayaks are not a monolithic group – some communities are open to working with palm oil companies, others are not. What’s important is to protect their rights. At the end of the day, all of them seek the promise of a better life, to be fairly treated, to provide for their families and send their children to school.
Q4. Indonesian academic Ariel Heryanto wrote an essay titled “Can there be Southeast Asians in Southeast Asian Studies?” Given how most International NGOs are run by Westerners, in a similar vein, can there be more Southeast Asians in conservation efforts across the region? Southeast Asians were the minority during the recent (2011) effort by DeforestAction in West Kalimantan.
A:
I agree that ideally, conservation efforts should be driven by locals. If this is not possible in the beginning, there should at least be buy-in from the locals. For this project, the call for video submissions went out in several countries as part of efforts to make a documentary to be screened to a global audience. I first heard about this project from a Singaporean investor in the project.
Our team of 15 Eco Warriors in September (2011) comprised Australians, Canadians, Americans, French, a Kenyan, a Dutch, myself and an Indonesian. We were led by Dr Willie Smits, who is Indonesian. We were helped and accompanied by a team of Dayaks from local villages we visited. One of the cameramen was Indonesian.
I think one of the key reasons for our fairly “international” efforts is to lend a louder voice and raise the visibility of the locals in West Kalimantan who have been left helpless against the might of palm oil companies, and to raise awareness of deforestation and wildlife conservation in this part of the world. The camera is a powerful tool and so are our social networks.
Given that some locals may not have extensive connections with the outside world, or the ability to communicate with a wider audience in English, it could difficult for awareness of local efforts beyond their country, and outsiders with the resources to help may not be able to, if they are not aware of these problems.
For the long-term success of any conservation effort, however, partnership with locals is essential and I think much will also rest on the locals to continue these efforts in a sustainable manner.
Q5. Based on your experience in the project, who do you think should best take the lead in conservation efforts?
A:
If locals take the lead and local authorities are responsive on the ground and set an example, there actually may not be a need for global efforts. For instance, in terms of land rights, the government could ensure proper processes are in place and law enforcement.
That said, our project so far would not have been possible without the support of the Bupati and other authorities.
Where the rest of the world may come in: Lending some international pressure to hold governments accountable for deforestation (especially that done illegally). As for wealthier countries paying developing ones to protect their forests, the world benefits from green lungs such as that in Kalimantan, so why not help pay for it?
Q6: Earlier this year, Princess Gusti Pembayun of the royal Jogyakarta household made a commitment to enrol 1 million Indonesian students in DeforestAction. How effective do you think this will be?
A:
Rallying students to conservation efforts can only be a good thing. It is good to get more Indonesians aware of the situation in West Kalimantan. It also shows what modern technology can do to solve a decades-old problem, by reaching out to as many schools and students as possible to spread the message against deforestation and animal trafficking.
I really hope that the Earth Watchers programme, which is part of the overall DeforestAction project, takes off. Through satellite technology, Earth Watchers has the potential to show how students in various parts of the world, including Indonesia, can help monitor satellite images of forest cover and alert a local team when they detect changes. In this way, a student from thousands of miles away can help do his part for Kalimantan. Hopefully, this can then be replicated further.
Q7. Is there anything Singaporeans can do to contribute to conservation efforts in Kalimantan?
A:
Singaporeans can be more aware of the provenance of palm oil products and the issues related to biofuels (it has yet to be the solution to our energy needs that everyone was hoping for). Palm oil plantations that emerged for biofuels are not that ‘green’ after all. We could push for better labelling of products sold in Singapore so that Singaporean consumers can choose not to use palm oil. We can choose to use resources judiciously. We can also support indigenous Dayak culture by buying products that they make.
***
Here's wishing Chai Chin and the rest of the Eco-Warriors all the best for the next leg of their project!
Q1. To begin, I was hoping you could share some personal reflections about your participation in the DeforestAction project in Sintang last year.
A: The 20 days was an eye-opener, venturing to places in the heart of West Kalimantan, meeting local communities and seeing first-hand the impact of palm oil and encroachment of companies was having on them.
The 20 days were an orientation of sorts for the rest of the 80 days, and was hence insufficient to understand how the local government and communities function, and more importantly, interact. I was hoping to also get the perspective of lawmakers like the Bupati, and to understand his relationship with the Dayaks. It would also have been useful to have been able to meet representatives from palm oil companies to get their side of the story. However, this was not possible due to a lack of access or limited opportunities for interaction. Maybe there will be such opportunities during the 80 days.
One thing in particular that struck me was that people are very much part of the equation. Conservation is not just about species like the orang-utans and their natural habitats, we must also consider how local communities have a right to progress and make a living. Part of our efforts, therefore, was to promote a sustainable livelihood for local communities, in this case, through sugar palm.
Q2. There is a danger of romanticising traditional ways of life. In your article, you wrote about sacred burial grounds and shifting cultivation – but is this what the Dayaks are really like, or are we imposing our own preconceptions about culture and tradition upon them?
A:
The Dayaks retain traditional practices and seemed proud of them – for example, dances and other ceremonies to welcome honoured guests. Some of the Dayak villages we went to were only accessible by river but many locals have mobile phones.
Any change to their traditions should come from them. The problem when palm oil companies come knocking – as documented in some research papers and witnessed by us to some extent – is that the villagers aren’t always told the truth. We encountered some villagers who said they had not been properly compensated for their land by a palm oil company, and heard accounts of palm oil companies creating divisions in village life by playing off certain individuals against others.
Villagers who sign away their land to engage in palm oil typically have to borrow money to buy saplings and fertilisers. But palm oil trees only start being productive a few years down the road, and that’s how a debt spiral occurs – to the detriment of any community.
The palm oil companies also bring some Javanese migrants in to work at the plantations.
So I think that’s how the cultural core is eroded when palm oil companies take over their land - debt, tensions and the increased presence of outsiders all bring about changes in their way of life which affect tradition and culture.
Q3. Do the Dayaks wish to maintain their current way of life? Some sold their land away to palm oil companies for jobs and income.
I may not be the best person to tackle this question, but I believe any additional income that they might earn is probably always welcome; everyone wants a better life. However, the palm oil companies frequently do not keep their promises of jobs and income.
We should also realise that the Dayaks are not a monolithic group – some communities are open to working with palm oil companies, others are not. What’s important is to protect their rights. At the end of the day, all of them seek the promise of a better life, to be fairly treated, to provide for their families and send their children to school.
Q4. Indonesian academic Ariel Heryanto wrote an essay titled “Can there be Southeast Asians in Southeast Asian Studies?” Given how most International NGOs are run by Westerners, in a similar vein, can there be more Southeast Asians in conservation efforts across the region? Southeast Asians were the minority during the recent (2011) effort by DeforestAction in West Kalimantan.
A:
I agree that ideally, conservation efforts should be driven by locals. If this is not possible in the beginning, there should at least be buy-in from the locals. For this project, the call for video submissions went out in several countries as part of efforts to make a documentary to be screened to a global audience. I first heard about this project from a Singaporean investor in the project.
Our team of 15 Eco Warriors in September (2011) comprised Australians, Canadians, Americans, French, a Kenyan, a Dutch, myself and an Indonesian. We were led by Dr Willie Smits, who is Indonesian. We were helped and accompanied by a team of Dayaks from local villages we visited. One of the cameramen was Indonesian.
I think one of the key reasons for our fairly “international” efforts is to lend a louder voice and raise the visibility of the locals in West Kalimantan who have been left helpless against the might of palm oil companies, and to raise awareness of deforestation and wildlife conservation in this part of the world. The camera is a powerful tool and so are our social networks.
Given that some locals may not have extensive connections with the outside world, or the ability to communicate with a wider audience in English, it could difficult for awareness of local efforts beyond their country, and outsiders with the resources to help may not be able to, if they are not aware of these problems.
For the long-term success of any conservation effort, however, partnership with locals is essential and I think much will also rest on the locals to continue these efforts in a sustainable manner.
Q5. Based on your experience in the project, who do you think should best take the lead in conservation efforts?
A:
If locals take the lead and local authorities are responsive on the ground and set an example, there actually may not be a need for global efforts. For instance, in terms of land rights, the government could ensure proper processes are in place and law enforcement.
That said, our project so far would not have been possible without the support of the Bupati and other authorities.
Where the rest of the world may come in: Lending some international pressure to hold governments accountable for deforestation (especially that done illegally). As for wealthier countries paying developing ones to protect their forests, the world benefits from green lungs such as that in Kalimantan, so why not help pay for it?
Q6: Earlier this year, Princess Gusti Pembayun of the royal Jogyakarta household made a commitment to enrol 1 million Indonesian students in DeforestAction. How effective do you think this will be?
A:
Rallying students to conservation efforts can only be a good thing. It is good to get more Indonesians aware of the situation in West Kalimantan. It also shows what modern technology can do to solve a decades-old problem, by reaching out to as many schools and students as possible to spread the message against deforestation and animal trafficking.
I really hope that the Earth Watchers programme, which is part of the overall DeforestAction project, takes off. Through satellite technology, Earth Watchers has the potential to show how students in various parts of the world, including Indonesia, can help monitor satellite images of forest cover and alert a local team when they detect changes. In this way, a student from thousands of miles away can help do his part for Kalimantan. Hopefully, this can then be replicated further.
Q7. Is there anything Singaporeans can do to contribute to conservation efforts in Kalimantan?
A:
Singaporeans can be more aware of the provenance of palm oil products and the issues related to biofuels (it has yet to be the solution to our energy needs that everyone was hoping for). Palm oil plantations that emerged for biofuels are not that ‘green’ after all. We could push for better labelling of products sold in Singapore so that Singaporean consumers can choose not to use palm oil. We can choose to use resources judiciously. We can also support indigenous Dayak culture by buying products that they make.
***
Here's wishing Chai Chin and the rest of the Eco-Warriors all the best for the next leg of their project!
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