Protection Forest Governance in East-Kalimantan: inside-out

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
MASTER OF CULTURES AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES



Protection Forest governance in
East-Kalimantan: inside-out
Exploring the gaps between discourse and reality








Promoter : Prof. Dr. M. BREUSERS

MASTER THESIS
Second reader : Prof. Dr. C. PANG

submitted to obtain the degree
of Master of Cultures and
Development Studies


by


Lien IMBRECHTS


academic year 2010-2011

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Abstract

This research paper explores issues of governance in Protection
Forests in East-Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. Starting from a
conceptual framework rooted in critical anthropology, an empirical
analysis of the governance situations in two forests - Gunung Lumut
and Sungai Wain Protection Forests - is made. This framework is
built on the concepts of power and authority, class and hierarchy,
capitalism and neoliberalism, and the dynamics between all of those.
The analysis is partly based on literature review and partly on
ethnographic fieldwork, and focuses on what happens in the twilight
zones between forest governance discourse and the forest governance
realities. In doing so, it seeks to find out how the processes in this
gap can produce a counter-productive arena in which governance
remains fuzzy and ambiguous. Yet it also attempts to prove how the
same processes can cause for governance to sprout forth within this
arena. The used empirical analysis brings issues to an abstract and
conceptual level, but it also allows for an extension beyond
traditional oppositions and categorisations, thereby forging
connections which may otherwise go unnoticed. Its value lies in a
combination with on-the-ground, interdisciplinary study.

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All phenomena are naturally uncreated.
They neither abide nor cease, neither come nor go.
They are without objective referent, signless, ineffable, and free from
thought.
The time has come for this truth to be realised!

Our impermanent environment will be destroyed by fire and water,
The impermanent sentient beings within it will endure the severing of body
and mind.
The seasons of the year: summer, winter, autumn and spring, themselves
[exemplify] impermanence.
Grant your blessing, so that disillusionment [with conditioned existence]
may arise from the depths [of our hearts]!
- The Tibetan Book of the Dead

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Acknowledgments

Alhamdullilah I am able to present this research paper, but this would
not have been possible without the generous time and help from a great
number of people. First and foremost I wish to thank my promoter,
Mark Breusers, who was supportive and interested in what I was doing
right from the start. My eyes were opened by Julie Poppe, who guided
me through the preparations for this research with utmost calmness and
patience. Big thanks also go to Lanny Hermawi, who taught me the
basics of Bahasa Indonesia before I left.
Terima kasih kepada Pak Jidan, Pak Jehan dan semua orang Mului. Di
Rantau Buta saya merasa di rumah sama keluarganya Pak Kades; saya
jangan akan lupa! Dan dari dasar hatiku salam sama semua wanita di
Swan Slutung. It was a great pleasure to work with Ibu Wira, as
colleagues and friends, and I wish her all of luck with the remainder of
her PhD-research. I am also greatly indebted to Pak Purwanto (UP-
HLSW), Ibu Nytha (BLH), Pak Satria (UP-KWPLH), Yulita, Rahmina
and everyone else involved in Sungai Wain and the Konsorsium. Thanks
to Laurens Bakker and Greg Acciaioli, I started believing in myself and
the project. Biggest thank you, of course, goes to Pak Petrus and
everyone at Tropenbos International for making this entire journey
possible (Sariman and Pijar, you know you are my heroes).

I could never have done this without my Indonesian friends who gave
me unconditional friendship; I hope I can return the favour one day and
welcome you in my home. Special mention goes to Nana and Nuri,
whom I consider not only to be friends, but also family. Thank you
Alex, for making my head work and Gerry, for literally saving my life
when I was ill. And thank you to my family and friends, whom I have
never felt closer to, despite never having been further away.

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Table of contents

Glossary ............................................................................................. 7
List of names and acronyms ............................................................ 8
1
Defining the landscape ........................................................... 17
1.1
Research purpose and question ......................................... 18
1.2
Forest in East-Kalimantan ................................................ 19
1.2.1
The forest of Gunung Lumut .................................... 20
1.2.2
The forest of Sungai Wain ........................................ 27
1.3
Two Protection Forests in perspective .............................. 34
2
Approaching the forest ........................................................... 38
2.1
Preliminary literature study .............................................. 38
2.1.1
Power and authority .................................................. 40
2.1.2
Class and hierarchy ................................................... 42
2.1.3
Neoliberalism and capitalism ................................... 44
2.1.4
Dynamics and interactivity ....................................... 47
2.2
Research and ethnographic fieldwork .............................. 48
2.2.1
Literature review....................................................... 49
2.2.2
Research locations and fieldwork strategies ............. 49
Case 1: Hutan Lindung Gunung Lumut, Paser District, East-
Kalimantan ............................................................................... 50
Case 2: Hutan Lindung Sungai Wain, Balikpapan Municipality,
East-Kalimantan ....................................................................... 56
2.2.3
Some personal reflections ......................................... 58
3
Immersing in the forest .......................................................... 61

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3.1
The forest context ............................................................. 61
3.1.1
Creating
`Indonesia':
a
quick
genealogy
of
governance ................................................................................ 61
3.1.2
Governing the forest: the rules of the game .............. 68
3.2
The fuzzy governance in Gunung Lumut ......................... 71
3.2.1
Swan Slutung: A social identity marked by poverty
and isolation .............................................................................. 71
3.2.2
Authority over forest land and resources in Rantau
Buta
........................................................................... 78
3.2.3
Mastering the dominant discourse in Mului ............. 83
3.3
Establishing governance in Sungai Wain ......................... 87
3.3.1
Sungai Wain's complex politics ............................... 88
3.3.2
Governance in Sungai Wain ..................................... 90
3.3.3
Companies lurking in the shadows ........................... 93
3.3.4
The limits to power: maintaining governance .......... 95
4
Leaving the forest, and looking back .................................... 99
4.1
Bridging the gaps .............................................................. 99
4.1.1
Through power and authority ................................... 99
4.1.2
Through class and hierarchy ................................... 101
4.1.3
Through neoliberalism and capitalism.................... 102
4.1.4
Through dynamics and interactivity ....................... 103
4.2
Conclusions on the used framework ............................... 104
4.3
Some recommendations .................................................. 105
Bibliography .................................................................................. 107

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