The meeting, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, celebrated the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and discussed how indigenous peoples should face obstacles to its implementation in their countries. (Announcement, 2/Aug/08 by AMAN - the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago).
Copper and gold mining company Freeport Indonesia (whose Papua operations are part-financed by the UK-based company Rio Tinto) and the Indonesian subsidiary of Canada's nickel mining company Inco, got a 'blue minus' rating for "doing something for environmental management but not reaching the government's standard". The first ever gold rating went to Bandung-based geothermal firm Magna Nusantara Ltd, for energy savings expected to cut 60,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Several much-criticised companies, including Riau Andalan Pulp, Indah Kiat, Toba Pulp and miners Newmont Nusa Tenggara got the 'green' status which means they have exceeded government standards. Lapindo, the company accused of responsibility for the Sidoardjo mudflow disaster that has submerged villages and forced thousands of people from their homes, was awarded a 'blue' rating.
Environment minister Rachmat Witoelar said there was no reason for companies to ignore their environmental obligations as they had long been aware of global efforts to cut air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. He also said a number of companies in the worst 'black' category that had shown no improvement since the previous audit, would be sued if their poor performance was the result of negligence. (Jakarta Post 17&26/Jul/08 and1/Aug/08)
Iban Dayak community gets first adat forest certification
The indigenous Iban Dayak community of Sungai Utik, West Kalimantan has secured sustainable forest management cerification from Indonesia's ecolabelling body, LEI - the first ever for an adat (customary) forest area. The certification is the result of collaborative work between the community and civil society organisations, and should help them continue to defend their forest resources from developers including pulpwood and oil palm plantation companies.
The fact that the Sungai Utik Dayaks have been able to retain their traditional longhouse is central to their success in maintaining their forests, according to adat leader Pak Janggut. In contrast, surrounding villages have not been so lucky and moved into individual houses under a former government 'healthy homes' resettlement programme aimed at indigenous communities. Malaysian logging companies persuaded other villages to allow commercial logging in their forests by promising to build longhouses, in addition to earnings from logging.
The Sungai Utik forests are rich in biodiversity and provide the community with timber as well as many non-timber products such as resins, rattan, fruit and medicinal plants.
For further background on this community's forest management see DTE 70. (Source: Antara 6/Aug/08; LEI Press Release 15/Jul/08 at www.lei.or.id/indonesia/news_detail.php?cat=0&news_id=93)
The project has a murky history: in 2004, Bandung's Legal Aid Institute exposed the embezzlement of more than Rp 6 billion (then around USD 700,000) from funds meant for compensation and public facilities for displaced villagers (see DTE 61). (Source: Jakarta Post 18/Jun/08)