Using local myths to protect forests in geothermal areas.Arya...

Using local myths to protect forests in geothermal areas.

Arya Dipa, The Jakarta Post, Bandung | Archipelago | Wed, February 13 2013, 6:34 AM


The West Java Conservation Volunteers Communication Forum (FKKKJB) and Sundanese cultural conservation group Kabuyutan Braga have initiated a cultural approach to preserve forests, especially those in geothermal areas.

FKKKJB research division member Pepep Didin Wahyudin said the opening of geothermal areas often had a negative impact on the environment due to the incursion of roads into the forests.

“Residents who were initially reluctant to enter the forested areas have become more daring. Residents living around geothermal areas not only enter the locations but also clear land and even fell trees to open farms,” Pepep said in Bandung on Monday.

Pepep conducted a study in Lake Aul, located upstream of the Wayang Windu geothermal area in Pangalengan, Bandung regency. During his visit in early January, water from the lake overflowed to lower-lying areas. Unfortunately, the overflow caused soil erosion which affected the Citarum River flow.

“The ecosystem is damaged,” said Pepep, which he said was attributed to the conversion of land into vegetable farms. Previously, residents had been afraid to fell trees or clear the forest let alone enter the forest.

“One of the reasons is the aul myth, a wolf-headed man who roams the forest, and residents were afraid of venturing out after dark,” he said.

In the past, villages usually prohibited or managed the access to forested areas using such myths as a way to conserve forests.

To prevent further forest destruction, both groups are working together to provide conservation education to residents living around geothermal areas. The joint effort has been forged in an eight-year work plan.

“A collective sense of awareness is needed that environmental conservation will improve their lives. They will also be involved as volunteers to protect their environment,” said Pepep.

Vega Karwanda from Kabuyutan Braga said the fading myth among the community was due to cultural degradation, whereas in fact residents had always regarded forests as sacred as they functioned as life support.

Several myths are still held by the community and have led to successful forest conservation in the Naga village protected forest in Tasikmalaya regency, the protected forest in the Baduy area and the Sancang protected forest in Garut regency.

“A cultural approach, through education, is needed as well as food security. As long as they are hungry, forest destruction will persist, as they have to continue meeting their economic needs,” he said.

In regard to the economic needs, Pepep and Vega agreed to conduct an awareness campaign among companies exploiting geothermal areas.

“The companies require forested areas, so we will urge them to provide land for cultivation for residents living outside the geothermal location,” said Pepep, adding the awareness campaign would start with the Wayang Windu geothermal area.

Based on data at the West Java Energy and Mineral Resources Agency, Indonesia has 43 geothermal locations in 11 regencies, with a potential for 27,189 megawatts (MW), or equivalent to 11 billion barrels of oil.

West Java has the most potential in Indonesia with 5,311 MW around 20 percent of the national figure.

Deputy chairman of the West Java chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment, Dedi Kurniawan perceived that the cultural approach could be applied in other geothermal areas in the province, such as Patuha Resort in Ciwidey, Mount Tangkuban Parahu just north of Bandung city, Mount Tampomas in Sumedang, Mount Ciremai in Cirebon and the Halimun-Salak National Park in Bogor.

He said geothermal exploration in forested areas would not be a problem as long as the existing regulations were complied with.

“Besides that, local residents should be aware of conservation issues and their food demands must be met,” he said.