permaculture

222 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

The community should work together and with the local government to:

• Voice ideas.


• Help create guidelines for conservation and sustainable resource management.


• Lobby for the protection of the conservation zone.


• Reduce corruption and resource depletion.


• Advocate for laws which can restrict companies using resources.


• Create guidelines for protecting sensitive areas.


• Protect the area against landslides.


• Encourage appropriate and sustainable tourism activities.


• Re-forest and/or protect forests on land and mountains above villages – This will
  help to prevent erosion, landslides, and water loss.

About the money made from community forests

National and international companies make a lot of money from Indonesia’s forests and other

natural resources. This money is made by harvesting the forest, cutting it down to grow

plantations, or both.

Community members are told that they will get jobs and income for endorsing and

participating in these activities. However, short-term jobs and a small amount of money will

never replace the wealth and value contained in these forests, especially for our children and

their children. The profits made from the sale of wood is huge, while the income generated

for the local communities is quite small.

This happens in countries all over the world and is causing huge problems, including natural

disasters and destruction worldwide.

It is very important that any existing or planned plantations should be separated from

community forests and community forest or conservation zone management systems.

Plantations should never be allowed to replace forests.

Another consideration is that Indonesia’s forests and its beautiful environment attracts

many tourists each year. Ecotourism can provide more jobs and local income for community

members than logging and plantations can. And it is sustainable for the future.