Chilli plan helps cut illegal logging

But the enterprising chilli-growing project for villagers is also plagued by endemic corruption, a disease common in Indonesia

By Marianne Kearney
STRAITS TIMES INDONESIA BUREAU

PALON - A small village in Central Java is a showcase of an innovative government policy.

Palon villagers, who grow chillies on regenerating forest department land, are making 30 million to 45 million rupiah (S$6,000 to S$9,000) per year, more than twice the earnings of an average farmer.

And with the assistance of the state-owned forestry company, they have set up a timber cooperative which encourages them to sell legal timber rather than steal it from nearby forests.

However, while Palon's government-assisted chilli plantations are one of the most innovative attempts to stop illegal logging in Indonesia, they too are plagued by the same disease found throughout Indonesia - endemic government corruption.

Corruption has allowed illegal logging to flourish.

It is in turn endangering the success of this community-managed agro-forestry scheme, which is designed to assure foreign buyers that Java's multi-million-dollar teak furniture industry is ecologically sound.

The traders of illegal logs include the usual suspects - members of the armed forces, police, local villagers paid by timber merchants, and even the state forestry company Perhutani.

'Perhutani has to clean itself up,' said a chilli and corn farmer who does not want to give his name.

The farmer said the armed forces and individual employees in Perhutani are trading in illegal timber or turning a blind eye to timber thieves who work for powerful cukong or timber merchants.

A local non-government watchdog, Arupa, said corruption within Perhutani was giving rise to the large amounts of illegally logged timber coming out of this area.

'Ten per cent of officials in Perhutani are involved in illegal logging for all levels,' said Mr Rama Astraatmaja from Arupa.

And this corruption, both inside and outside Perhutani, is damaging nearby Jepara's teak furniture industry.