SUVANNABHUMI (수완나부미)

Korea Institute for ASEAN Studies (부산외대 아세안연구원)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Deforestation and Islamic Ethics: A Search for the Eco-Religious Links between Islam and Sustainable Development in Indonesia

  • KIM, Yekyoum (Department of Indonesian and Malay Studies, Busan University of Foreign Studies)
  • Received : 2021.01.15
  • Accepted : 2021.05.31
  • Published : 2021.07.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Indonesia has undergone the rapid deforestation largely as a result of practical consequences of human overexploitation of the forest. Between 1950 and 2015, around 43% of the forest area in Indonesia had been lost (68.0 million hectares). The process of deforestation has partly been a response to the rapidly intensifying 'global' and 'domestic' economic demands. Deforestation in Indonesia is also indirectly due to 'materialism-driven' value system and the corresponding weakening of Indonesian ethics. Therefore, given that socio-cultural expressions of modern Indonesian value systems have mostly taken place within a framework of Islam, the aim of the paper is to attempt to find Islamic ethics in general, which can provide the basis of ecological ethics to prevent rapid deforestation in Indonesia. The paper is composed of the followings. First, following the 'Introduction', it outlines the historical process of deforestation in Indonesia and also its corresponding socio-economic contexts. Then it moves on to talk about ecological ethics in general, thereby emphasizing that the phenomenological problem of deforestation needs to be conceived at a philosophical level beyond ecological phenomena. After discussing the ecological ethics, the paper proceeds to examine Islamic ethics as a canonical framework of ecological ethics in Indonesia. In doing so, it attempts to apply the Islamic ethics to the diverse Indonesian society and then considers 'Pancasila' as a potential framework for a pragmatic link between Islam ethics and Indonesian society. Having said that, in conclusion, the paper argues that there is a need for 'concrete' translation of 'Pancasila' into implementation in an Indonesian context, thereby various agents (government, policy-practitioners, concessionaires and also all the Indonesian) may agree in saying 'no' to overexploitation of the forest, to rapid depletion of the forest and to 'unsustainable' development practices.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the research grant of the Busan University of Foreign Studies in 2020.

References

  1. Adrianto, H. A., D. V. Spracklen and S. R. Arnold. 2019. Relationship Between Fire and Forest Cover Loss in Riau Province, Indonesia Between 2001 and 2012. Forests, 10(10): 889-908. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10100889
  2. Ahmed, Fethi B. Jomaa. 2020. Conceptualizing Islamic Ethics for Contemporary Muslim Societies. Intellectual Discourse, 28(1): 319-344.
  3. Ali, Abdullah Yusuf. 1983. The Holy Quran. Brentwood. Md.: Amana Corp.
  4. Attfield, Robin. 1983. The Ethics of Environmental Concern. Oxford: Blackwell.
  5. Austin, Kemen G., Amanda Schwantes, Yaofeng Gu and Prasad S. Kasibhatla. 2019. What causes deforestation in Indonesia? Environmental Research Letters, 14: 1-9.
  6. Baker, Jacqui. 2020. Corrupt networks in the Indonesian forestry sector: Politics and pulp in Pelalawan, Riau. U4 Issue, (Chr. Michelsen Institute) 12: 1-41.
  7. Berry, Robert James. 1993. Environmental Dilemmas: Ethics and Decisions. London: Chapman & Hall.
  8. Christopher, John B. 1972. The Islamic Tradition. New York: Harper & Row Publishers.
  9. CSIS [Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta]. 1978. P-4: the Guide to the Living and Practice of Pancasila, GBNH: the Broad Outline of State Policy. Jakarta: Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
  10. Darmaputera, Eka. 1988. Pancasila and the Search for Identity and Modernity in Indonesian Society: a Cultural and Ethical Analysis. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
  11. Darmawan, Rivayani, Stephan Klasen and Nunung Nuryartono. 2016. Migration and Deforestation in Indonesia. EFForTS Discussion Paper Series No. 19.
  12. Departmen Penerangan Indonesia. 1987. The Process and Progress of Pancasila Democracy. Jakarta: Department of Information, Republic of Indonesia.
  13. Dewayanti, Aninda and Saat, Norshahril. 2020. Islamic Organizations and Environmentalism in Indonesia. Perspective, [Yusof Ishak Institute] 117: 1-9.
  14. Donaldson, Dwight M. 1953. Studies in Muslim Ethics. London: S.P.C.K.
  15. Ebrahimi, Mansoureh. 2017. Islamic Identity, Ethical Principles and Human Values. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 6(1): 325-336. https://doi.org/10.26417/ejms.v6i1.p325-336
  16. Efendi, M. Marja, Mimien Henie Irawati, Fatchur Rohman, and Abdul Gofur. 2017. Islamic View of Environmental Coservation Education in Pondok Pesantren Nurul Jaramain Lombok Barat, Indonesia. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(12): 137-140.
  17. Eldeeb, Osama, Petr Prochazka and Mansoor Maitah. 2015. Causes for Deforestation in Indonesia: Corruption and Palm Tree Plantation. Asian Social Science, 11(27): 120-124. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v11n27p120
  18. FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations]. 2020. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020: Country Report (Indonesia). Rome: FAO.
  19. FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations]. 2021. Forestry Production and Trade. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/FO (Accessed January 9, 2021).
  20. Gada, Mohd Yaseen. 2014. Environmental Ethics in Islam: Principles and Perspectives. World Journal of Islamic History and Civilization, 4(4): 130-138.
  21. Geertz, Clifford. 1960. The religion of Java. Glencoe: Free Press.
  22. Geertz, Hildred. 1963. Indonesian Cultures and Communities. New Haven: Hraf Press.
  23. Global Forest Watch. 2021. Country Report: Indonesia. https://www.globalforestwatch.org. (Accessed January 3, 2021).
  24. Green Facts. 2021. Valuing the Ecosystem of the Indonesian Rainforest. https://www.greenfacts.org (Accessed January 3, 2021).
  25. ITTO [International Tropical Timber Organization]. 2019. Biennial Review an Assessment 2017-2018. Yokomaha, Japan: ITTO.
  26. Hayward, Tim. 1995. Ecological Thought: an Introduction. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishers.
  27. Hill, Hal. 1994. Indonesia's New Order: the Dynamics of Socio-economic Transformation. St. Leonards, NSN, Australia: Allen and Unwin.
  28. IBRD [International Bank for Reconstruction and Development]. 1990. Indonesia: Sustainable Development of Forests, Land, and Water. Washington DC: World Bank.
  29. International Conference (on Thai studies: 5th: 1993: London). 1994. The Role of Buddhism in Creating a More Sustainable Society in Thailand. London: SOAS.
  30. Jang, Sang Kyung and Jae Soo BAE. 2013. An Analysis of Indonesia Forest Moratorium: with particular reference to Forest Governance. DongAsia YeonGu[Southeast Asian Studies], 23(3): 49-92.
  31. Jepma, Catrinus J. 1995. Tropical Deforestation: a Socio-economic Approach. London: Earthscan.
  32. Jong, Hans Nicholas. 2019. Indonesia forest-clearing ban is made permanent, but labeled 'propaganda'. Mongabay, (14 August 2019).
  33. Khalid, Fazlun. 2010. Islam and the Environment Ethics and Practice: an assessment. Religion Compass, 4(11): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-8171.2009.00178.x
  34. Kim, Y. 2019. Facts amd Fictions of 'Transmigrasi' in Indonesia. Asia YeonGu [Asian Studies], 22(1): 75-100.
  35. Kerstiens, Thom. 1966. The New Elite in Asia and Africa: a comparative study of Indonesia and Ghana. London: Frederick A. Praeger, Inc.
  36. Kurdi, Abdulrahman Abdulkadir. 1984. The Islamic State. London: Mansell Publishing Limited.
  37. Makkarennu and Akira Nakayasu. 2013. Prospective Indonesian Plywood in the Global Market. Journal of Life Sciences and Technologies, 1(3): 190-195.
  38. Mangunjaya, Fachruddin Majeri and Jeanne Elizabeth Mckay. 2012. Reviving an Islamic Approach for Environmental Conservation in Indonesia. Worldviews, 16: 286-305. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685357-01603006
  39. Matthews, Emily. ed. 2002. The State of the Forest: Indonesia. Washington: World Resources Institute.
  40. McKay, Jeanne E., Fachruddin M. Mangunjaya, Yoan Dinata, Stuart R. Harrop and Fazlun Khalid. 2013. Pratise what you preach: a faith-based approach to conservation in Indonesia. Oryx [Fauna and Flora International], 48(1): 23-29.
  41. Miyamoto, Motoe. 2020. Poverty reduction saves forests sustainably: lessons for deforestation policies. World Development, 127: 1-12.
  42. Nasendi B. D. 2000. Deforestation and Forest Policies in Indonesia. World Forests from Deforestation to Transition? (World Forests Volume 2), Matti Palo, Heidi Vanhanen, eds. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
  43. Research and Markets. 2020. Worldwide Plywood Market Analysis, 2007-2019 & 2020-2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/14/1985139/0/en/Worldwide-Plywood-Market-Analysis-2007-2019-2020-2025.html (Accessed January 5, 2021).
  44. Rossabi, Amy. 1999. Legal Policies Surrounding the Degradation of Indonesia's Forests. Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, 1: 29-49. https://doi.org/10.2307/vermjenvilaw.1.1.29
  45. Rustiadi, Ernan and Junaidi. 2011. Transmigrasi dan Pengembangan Wilayah. Pertemuan Penyempurnaan Konsep Rancangan Peraturan Pemerintah tentang Penyelenggaraan Transmigrasi (14 February 2011). Jakarta: Kementerian Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi, Jakarta.
  46. Saniotis, Arthur. 2012. Muslims and ecology: fostering Islamic environmental ethics. Contemporary Islam, 6: 155-171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11562-011-0173-8
  47. Schatzschneider, Isabel. 2013. Environmental Ethics and Islam. Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics Working Paper (31 January 2013).
  48. Scholte, Marianne. 2019. Indonesia Curtails Deforestation. Jakarta: FORCIME.
  49. Shariati, Ali. 1979. Islamic View of Man. Houston: Free Islamic Literatures, INC.
  50. Sunderlin, William D. 1997. Shifting Cultivation and Deforestation in Indonesia: Steps Toward Overcoming Confusion in the Debate. Network Paper 21B (Rural Development Forestry Network). Jakarta: CIFOR.
  51. Timber Trade Portal. 2021. Country Report: Indonesia. https://www.timbertradeportal.com/countries/indonesia (Accessed January 5, 2021).
  52. Tsujino, Riyou, Takakazu Yumoto, Shumpei Kitamura, Ibraim Djamaluddin, Deby Marnaedi. 2016. History of Forest Loss and Degradation in Indonesia. Land Use Policy, 57: 335-347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.05.034
  53. Vidal, John. 2014. Rate of Deforestation in Indonesia overtakes Brazil. The Guardian (30 June 2014).
  54. Von Grunebaum, Gustrave Edmund. 1961. Islam: in the Nature and Growth of a Cultural Tradition. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
  55. Wijaya, Arief, Reidinar Juliane, Rizky Firmansyah, and Tjokorda Nirarta Koni Samandhi. 2015. Driver of Deforestation in Indonesia, Inside and Outside Concessions Area. https://www.wri.org/blog (Accessed January 9, 2021).
  56. World Bank. 1994. Indonesia: Environment and Development. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.
  57. World Bank. 2021a. 'World Development Indicators: Indonesia.' https://datatopics.worldbank.org//world-development-indicators (Accessed January 5, 2021).
  58. World Bank. 2021b. 'Forest Area: Indonesia.' https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.FRST.K2?locations=ID (Accessed January 8, 2021).