FAMILY-BASED FORESTRY:

A Long-term Strategy for Protecting North Buton Forest

North Buton Island which is now divided into nine subdistricts is traditionally inhabited by three indigenous ethnics, namely Kulisusu and Kioko in the east and Taloki in the west. Since inclusion of North Buton into Muna District in 1964, many Muna People from Muna Island have migrated to this area especially in its west part (in the lands of Taloki People). Lastly, many people from the very populous island of Java have also become new population through central government-sponsored migration project.

North Buton Wildlife Reserve is situated in the inner part of North Buton Island (indicated by green color in the map). It is covered local community lands (yellow color of the map) and mangrove forest (the blue color) in the coastal area particularly in the eastern part of the island. The reserve of 82,000 ha is not only as the largest protected forest in South East Sulawesi but also as the natural habitat of many plants and animals. Moreover, some indigenous sacred sites called 'SANGIA' are also therein.

Presently the situation of North Buton Forest is going worse day to day which has led to threatening existence of its wildlife and environmental balance. Some endemic animals like Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) and Maleo bird (Macrocephalon maleo) are now in danger and hard to find. In some places, coral reefs have been covered with sediment carried by flood.

Destruction of North Buton Forest is mostly caused by illegal logging activities committed by local people. Although they only get very low margin (the biggest margin is by timber barons), they steadily do this prohibited activities. While no longer forest available outside the reserve, cutting down the protective forest is the only way to get money shortly. Creating alternative livelihood is very possible in North Buton because of its great potency both in the land and in the sea, however, it becomes inapplicable due to unavailability of start-up capital. This situation has created a vicious circle. On the other side, the control of North Buton Wildlife Reserve is only handled by four personnel of the Department of Forestry. This sounds like a mission impossible to cover an area of 82,000 ha.

Referring to those problems above, it becomes essential to involve local people in conservation of North Buton Wildlife Reserve. Developing family-based forests is one of forms of real participation. The large area of unproductive lands (the yellow part of the map above) outside the reserve occupied by local people are very potential to be developed as family-based commercial forests. If every family has their own land, they will not go to cutting down the protective forest, and illegal logging activities will be decreased significantly.

So far, there is indeed no statistical data on the total area of unproductive lands occupied by local people in North Buton, but it is predicted no less than 45.000 ha. By reforesting all these lands with teak tree, for instance, all the 14,143 families in North Buton (BPS, 2002) will have at least 3 ha each. Under an assumption of production of  every hectare reaching 300 m3 in the coming 20 years, every family will earn US$ 100,000. This is a significant future source of income.

Acting locally, thinking globally. In order to save the globe, start from your self and your family. If anyone and any family support this philosophy concretely, our global environment will be saved.