Politics and Government Studies department at the Faculty of Social and Political Scences of Universitas Gadjah Mada is currently developing the knowlege hub for extractive industry governance in Asia Pacific region. It offers to encourage the enhancement of local knowledge hub for resource governance.
Researches have been conducted in some areas rich in natural resources, such as Manggarai and Belu regencies East Nusa Tenggara Province, Tanah Bumbu regency in South Kalimantan Province, and Banyuwangi regency in East Java. So far, the Research Centre for Politics and Government (PolGov) of the Department from 26 - 27 January 2016 has conducted Dissemination of Policy Brief in Mercure Grand Mirama Hotel in Surabaya, East Java, and Roditha Hotel in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan.
"This forum is part of a series of publications on studies that are expected to give input to the drafting of public policy related to natural resources governance,” said Prof. Dr. Purwo Santoso in Surabaya on Tuesday (26/1).
Purwo Santoso said those four areas were selected due to their abundant natural resources as well as socio-political context that affects natural resource governance policy. This forum is expected to give positive input to that.
Purwo Santoso pointed out an example of the dispute case in Banyuwangi. He predicted the gold and copper mining are the main mining commodities in that area. It has increasingly withdrawn more attention to be discussed publicly. There are indications that the decision to extract the rich resources de facto have not involved the local society.
"Community participation ought to be a certainty, bearing in mind that the local residents are the first to be impacted by the mining activities there,” he said.
As such, Purwo Santoso said, PolGov UGM is driven to conduct a research related to the knowledge of the local people on natural resources. The research in late 2015 showed that the local community has natural resource management based on tradition and daily practices, religious values and norms, also myths and beliefs.
"Such local knowledge can actually be made a basis for the policy making in the permit issuance for mining exploration and exploitation in Banyuwangi. The local people participation is also assessed as able to minimise damage potential and conflict that it may cause,” said Purwo.