Conclusions

Firstly, from the research findings, the indigenous people seem less marginalized in their own territory, especially in terms of getting access to forestry products since decentralisation. Indeed, based on interviews with 50 people, the Dayak have more opportunity to get involved in the forestry sector. It was very rare for the Dayak to be involved in the small-scale enterprises in the forestry related products, except for those engaged in making rattan products. However, after January 2001 a few Dayak have engaged in sawmill enterprises. The mushrooming of sawmill enterprises has been evident in Linggang Bigung. Previously, it was almost impossible for the Dayak to establish such enterprises because of restrictions on getting access to the logs. Before decentralization, the Dayak would be chased by logging security if they entered the forests claimed to be 'logging areas' by certain logging companies.

Apart from this, the Dayak used to receive nothing from the logging companies, but now they receive a fee from a logging company if the company takes logs from areas of forests belonging to the Dayak or at least claimed by the Dayak as their property. Receiving fees was not possible before for the Dayak, they had even faced problems if they cut trees from their 'communal forests'. The benefits of receiving fees have limitations. In Linggang Bigung, there are only certain villagers who receive a fee, only those who own areas of forest.

Secondly, there is a shift from traditional type of work to more modern jobs in relation to forest products. Hunting and gathering have been traditional types of jobs engaged in by the Dayak. This has been applicable to many Dayak regardless of their sub tribal affiliations. The meaning of hunting itself has been continuously changing. A long time ago, the Dayak people hunted animals for the whole community of the longhouse. This is not so nowadays because the animals once hunted have been commercialised so that the hunters sell them either in the markets or to individuals. Hunters also encounter difficulties due to the scarcity of animals in nearby forests which have been greatly exploited. Since decentralisation, logging is not only conducted by big logging companies, but also by individual loggers known as tukang senso (people who work alone or in a group to cut trees in the forests).

Thirdly, jobs in the forestry related products are currently still promising but people worry about the future. Indeed, the loss of dense forests has been evident and in a few years people may find it very hard to see dense forests. The exploitation of forests has meant a great deal. Nonlocals can go to engage in different businesses, but local people like the Dayak, will stay and bear the burden of losing their livelihoods.

Fourthly, the regulations on forestry in relation with decentralization seem not to be fixed. The local government at district level in West Kutai argues that the central government has not given full autonomy to the district on forestry. Meanwhile, the demand from the people, especially the indigenous people who had been marginalized for a long time to regain 'their forests' or at least to get access to forest products has been very strong. The local government admits that it is often trapped in the middle of many forces. The escalating of illegal logging or legal logging has been another problem. Decentralization has often been interpreted as 'freedom' to do anything from the local people’s perspective but in fact decentralisation has not been full in the forestry sector because the central government continues to have power in managing the forests.

Finally, the weaknesses from the past centralistic policy, ignoring and marginalizing the indigenous peopleshould not be transferred into the era of decentralization. There should not be a single player in the decision making process in the forestry sector but rather there should be involvement of many parties, including indigenous people, local government and nongovernment organizations. The indigenous people have their own wisdom in managing the forests. Without cooperation among many parties to establish a sustainable forest management policy, forests could be gone because to many people (businessmen, government, etc.) forests are like sugar to ants.

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Comment(s)

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1. Fowzia
   (posted 20 May 2007 / 12:12:10 PM)
   
   This site gives a lot of good information on the indigenous poeple.