Berbagai Elemen Masyarakat Nyatakan Komitmen Mengatasi Permasalahan Gambut dengan ‘Deklarasi Jogja’
Berbagai Elemen Masyarakat Nyatakan Komitmen Mengatasi Permasalahan Gambut dengan ‘Deklarasi Jogja’
Peat swamp forest fires that happened in areas in Indonesia have affected many parties. Around 10 percent of land in Indonesia consists of peat swamp forest, but almost every year this potential asset is degraded by fire. The cause of this man-made disaster is the depression of ethics on national economy development, natural resource is systematically transformed into commodity controlled by market interest. Therefore, many efforts needed to be done to form a massive and systematic inter-sectoral network under the submission of national honorable leader.
“As high as 90 percent of peat swamp forests fires are caused by man and 95 percent of the victims are man; that is why we don’t need to change the way we handle, it but we need to change the man. Greatest bureaucracy creates a way, but how to implement the way is more important,” said Radhar Panca Dahana in a Focus Group Discussion with peat swamp forests fire conservation team.
That was one of the reasons behind the Jogja Declaration (Deklarasi Jogja) on behalf of Gerakan Rakyat Peduli Gambut (People Peat Swamp Forest Care). It consisted of many individuals from various fields and backgrounds, such as academicians, government institution, indigenous people, NGO, private sectors, and student organizations. They declared their 6 commitment points to administer peat swamp forests fire cases, Wednesday (12/16) at Balairung UGM.
The declaration was read by the Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D. The contents of the declarations are, first, the realization that Peat swamp forests are God’s gift for the prosperity and social justice of Indonesia citizens and a bless for all natures. Second, the realization that the management of Peat swamp forests has harmed culture spirituality, nature law, and righteousness of people so it brought disasters. The third point is the declarators expressing their commitment to make the management of Peat swamp forests to the level of good ethics and perceptive. Fourth point is to taking care of the sustainable of Peat swamp forests ecosystem as hydrology by the way to keep the humidity depends on its characteristics. Beside that, local wisdom has to be considered along with improvement of the management to take care of untouched area for future generations. Fifth, they were asking for participation of all elements collectively and/or individually, to be in synergy in a sustained form as a form of responsibility to guard our national assets.
The sixth point is to fulfill nation’s expectation, anticipate the demolishing of the future, declarators are committed to start the People Peat Swamp Forest Care with a spirit of togetherness which fit Indonesian Local Wisdom. “After discussing on a small group, many concrete acts will be done to prevent forests fire to happen in the next season,” Dwikorita added. (Adelily)