The Heart of : the nexus of bioregional transition, indigenous environmental ethics and environmental sustainability

International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) 2016 Conference held at the University of District Columbia, Washington, D.C, United States

June 26-29, 2016

Choy Yee Keong Graduate School of Economics Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan [email protected]

This work was supported by the MEXT*－Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private University, 2014-2018 (*Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan) Aim

To critically examine the process of bio- regional transition to a Green Economy in Borneo To examine the connection between indigenous environmental ethics and environmental sustainability and its implications on bioregional green economic transition Located in Southeast Asia Composition: (), (the states of and ) and , covering an area of roughly 740,000 km2) 3rd largest island in the world next to Greenland and New Guinea

3

Natural Cultural value value A unique blend of

Economic value Forests evolved about 100 million years ago

15,000 plant species (>5,000 endemic) 150 reptile and amphibian species 100 mammal species 200 bird species

Between 1994 and 2004: 361 new species 30 unique fish species identified 16 ginger species 3 tree species 2 tree frog species 2006 alone: 52 new species indentified 1 large-leafed plant Source: WWF, Indonesia, 2006 species Plant diversity: as great as all of Africa which is 40 times the size of Borneo Source: Schilthuizen, M. 2006. Biodiscoveries. Borneo’s Botanical Secret. World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Jakarta, Indonesia

8 world’s largest flower species Source: WWF (undated): http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/borneo_forests/about_borneo_forests/borneo_animals/bor neo_plants/, also, in WWF. 2007. Forests of Borneo. Forest Area Key Facts & Carbon Emissions from Deforestation. World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Washington D.C. Germany Netherlands UK Borneo Plants 2,683 1,221 1,623 15,000 Birds 247 192 229 620 Mammals 76 55 50 221 Source: WWF-Cannon, 2010

Economic value

Timber Mineral deposits (coal)

Source of hydro energy Medical/herbal plants

Industrial and agricultural land Indonesia Kalimantan Betung Karihun National Park, (41 species) Kutai National Parks, (220 species) Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan (55 species) Source: Wawan Kustiawan, Natural Life, Vol. 2. No.1, 2007, 24-34, Research Institute of Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Indonesia

Malaysia Sabah: 1,300 species Source: Julius Kulip, “Useful Wild Plants of the Natives in Sabah, Malaysia,” Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia, 2014 Malaysia Sarawak: 1,300 speceis Source: Forestry Department Sarawak, Malaysia, 2015, http://www.forestry.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/page.php?id=652

In 2007, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)+ Indonesia + Malaysia + Brunei

Heart of Borneo Initiatives (HoBI)

Development that is economically environmentally, and socially sustainable

1. Protection of ecosystem services 2. Halting further conversion of natural forests 3. Reducing green house gases emissions The Structure of HoB Green Economy

Economic Environmental Social policies policies policies

Innovation Deployment of advanced renewable energy and resource saving technologies

Low-carbon, eco- and resource-efficient economy

Environmental sustainability & socioeconomic progress The HoB Green Economy and the creation of the Heart of Borneo (HoB)

One of the world’s most biological diverse ecosystems

17

Trilateral Strategic Plan of Action

Each country

Trilateral Strategic Plan of TrilateralPlan of Strategic

Own Own specific Sustainable forest management forest Sustainable management

Indonesia: HoB biodiversityand conservation

Working Group ImplementationorProject Framework

Malaysia: National Action

Expert Group and HoB

Steering Committee Strategic Plan Strategic

Brunei Darussalam: HoB National Council

Source: WWF. 2012. Building a Green Economy in the Heart of Borneo: South-South Cooperation between Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Malaysia, http://www.unep.org/south-south- cooperation/case/casefiles.aspx?csno=69 The HoB Strategic Plan of Action

v

Transboundary management Protected area management Sustainable resource management Ecotourism development Capacity building

Source: http://www.hobgreeneconomy.org/downloads/HoB_strategic_plan_of_action.pdf OR Sabah Forestry Department 2009, Strategic Plan of Action (Sabah). The Heart of Borneo Initiative http://www.hobgreeneconomy.org/downloads/sabah_plan_of_action_heartofborneo.pdf HoB Strategic Plan of Action in practice HoB area is recognized as an area of National Strategic Importance through Government Regulation No.26 of 2008 Presidential Decree No.2 of 2012: to prevent activities that may disturb the HoB Indonesia Presidential Decree No.3 of 2012: Hob is recognized as the “lungs of the world” (Government target to reduce gas emissions by 26% by 2020) Source: Nancy Ariaini 2013. Focus Group Discussion on Heart of Borneo Green Economy in Indonesia, http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?209292/Focus-Group-Discussion-on-Heart-of-Borneo-Green-Economy- in-Indonesia#

Malaysia Identify and gazette tracts of natural forests based on the establishment, wildlife sanctuaries and nature reserves (totally protected national parks areas) [Target : 1 million hectares by 2020] Source: Heart of Borneo, a joint commitment to conserve, protect diverse world ecosystem, http://sarawakmonitor.blogspot.jp/2013/12/heart-of-borneo-joint-commitment-to.html, Posted 1st December 2013 by Sarawak Monitor

To indentify key conservation targets and to create tracts of protected forest (forest reserves and protected areas created: 1.55 million ha or 21% of Sabah’s land area) + to institutionalize multiple-use forest landscape planning and management model [Source WWF Malaysia. 2014 WWF-Malaysia commends Sabah Forestry Department for setting aside more forests for protection and restoration, http://www.wwf.org.my/media_and_information/updates__former_newsroom_main_/?uNewsID=18505

To establish and maintain protected areas and forest reserves, to improve connectivity of forests for wildlife mobility, biodiversity reservoir, to protect watershed areas, and to create a destination for eco-tourism (HoB corridor initiative) Transboundary management, protected area management and sustainable resource management of the Heart of Borneo in practice

23 totally protected areas Illegal logging activities

Uncontrolled oil palm plantationv expansion

Mega-dam infrastructure development Poaching & wildlife trading/smuggling From bioregional Green Economy to transboundary Brown Economy

Lost 2 million ha or 10% of its forest cover since 2007 Empirical evidence Indonesia Source: Greenpeace, “Certifying Destruction”, 2013

Source of pictures: , , http://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2014/feb/28/deforestation-of-kalimantan-rainforest-in- pictures Damage caused by industrial machinery outside of Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

In 2010 alone, land-clearing for oil palm plantations in Kalimantan emitted more than 140 million MT of CO2 – an amount equivalent to annual emissions from about 28 million vehicles (Rob Jordan. 2012. Stanford researchers show oil palm plantations are clearing carbon-rich tropical forests in Borneo . Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University. Stanford, California http://news.stanford.edu/news/2012/october/oil-palm-plantation.html)

Source: WWF, http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/borneo_forests/borneo_deforestation/ Central Government’s 2011 Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI)

IndoMet Coal Project (ICP): covers 5 potential coal deposits in East and To mine 1.25 billion tons (350,000 hectares, of thermal and more than twice the size of Greater metallurgical coal London located deep in the HoB)

Open-cut mining contributes Extensive forest destruction directly to erosion + heavy metals + biodiversity disruption + leaching into waterways + adverse socio-economic impact on aquatic ecosystem impoverishment of the natural resource dependence Center for Media and Democracy, 2014, IndoMet Coal Project, http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/IndoMet_Coal_Project indigenous people Malaysia Logging tracks Forest irreversible conversion oil palm plantation

>60-fold expansion

Source of data: R.A. Cramb, 2007; Cooke et al. 2011; Lyddon, 2014, MPOB. 2014 and 2015 Statistics HEP

Limbang HEP

Irreversible destruction of 230,000 Tutoh HEP ha of rainforest

Baram HEP

Completed Under planning Bakun HEP stage HEP: Hydro-electric Metjawah HEP Linau HEP Murum HEP Power Belaga HEP Belepeh HEP Pelagus HEP

Completed Baleh HEP

Ulu Air HEP

Batang Ai HEP (7 million hectares: 57% of state’s total land mass) 33 About 80 percent of the forest: impacted by logging or clearing

Sarawak

Kalimantan (Indonesia)

Source: Rhett A. Butler, 2013 Aerial view of palm oil plantation on deforested land, Sabah, Malaysia

Source: WWF, http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/borneo_forests/borneo_deforestation/

Expanding oil palm in Sabah, Malaysia (photo by Rhett Butler) 36 What is ethics?

37 Ethics

A set of moral principles or values

Guide one’s action and prescribes what human beings ought to do in terms of obligations or duties to others based on moral rules38 39 40 Human beings: members of the biotic community/ecosystem (ecocentric)

Environment

Human beings

41 Intrinsically skewed? Instrumentally inclined? (ecocentric) (anthrpocentric) Almost entirely value nature for the Not entirely value nature for its own sake of its utility for humanity sake Determine the degree of ethical responsibility towards the environment when optimizing its economic use (environmental ethics) Prudent use of Exploitative mode of natural resources resource use

Ecological Integrate system Sustainable environmental ethics Socio- resource use and into a joint socio- economic Environmental ethics management economic-ecological system system system Environment Environmental ethics

Empirical evidence 43 Field studies in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia between 2007-2011

Place: mostly in the forest interiors in Sarawak (, , , , Highland, Mulu) Tribal groups: Kenyah, Kayan, Penan, Iban, Kelapit, Berawan

Tokyo 44 Year Month Name of longhouse/tribe Location May Mudung Ambun (Kenyah) Bintulu 2007 May Terbila Tubau (Kenyah) Bintulu February Ado Bilong (Penan) Bintulu May Long Bala (Kenyah) Bintulu May Long Apok (Penan) Bintulu May Rumah Anthony Lerang (Kenyah) Bintulu August Rumah Bagong (Iban) Bintulu Name of longhouses August Rumah Jalong (Kenyah) Bintulu August Long Biak (Kenyah) Bintulu August Kampong Gumbang () Kuching 2008 August Tanah Mawang (Iban) Kuching interviewed (50 August Nanga Entawai (Iban) Sibu (Song) August Kulleh Village (Iban) Sibu (Song) October Rumah Amit (Iban) Bintulu doors) October Rumah Mulie (Iban) Bintulu October Rumah Kiri (Iban) Bintulu October Uma Sambop (Kenyah) Bintulu November Rumah Akeh

January Long Lawen (Kenyah) Bintulu January Long Wat (Penan) Bintulu January Long Pelutan (Penan) Bintulu January Long Peran (Penan) Bintulu January Long Jek (Penan) Bintulu July Long Koyan (Kenyah) Bintulu October Rumah Sekapan Pitt (Kenyah) Bintulu October Long Dungun (Kenyah) Bintulu October Sekapang Panjang (Kenyah) Bintulu October Rumah Aging Long (Penan) Bintulu 2009 November Kampong Sg. Entulang (Iban) Miri November Kampong Sg. Buri (Iban) Miri November (Kayan) Miri November Long Tutoh (Kenyah) Miri November Long Ikang (Kenyah) Miri November Long Banyok (Kenyah) Miri December Long Miri (Kenyah) Miri December Long Na'ah (Kayan) Miri December Long Pillah (Kayan) Miri December Long Kesih (Kayan) Miri Miri (Bario February Arur Dalan (Kelapit) Highland) Miri (Bario February Bario Asal (Kelapit) Highland) Miri (Bario February Ulung Palang (Kelapit) Highland) August Rumah Busang (Iban) Miri Miri (Niah November Rumah Ranggong, Sungai Sah (Iban) 2010 district ) Miri (Niah November Rumah Umpur (Iban) district ) Miri (Niah November Rumah Ampan (Iban) district ) Miri (Niah November Rumah Usek (Iban) district ) Miri(Niah November Rumah Tinggang (Iban) district ) Mulu (near February Batu Bungan (Penan) Miri) Mulu (near 2011 February Long Iman (Penan) Miri) 45 Mulu (near February Long Terawan (Berawan) Miri) 46 Rumah Ampau, Ulu Niah, Iban Commnity (November 2010): Bagoal ak Neyang (60)

“…we are obliged to protect our land for the benefits of our children and grandchildren…”

Long Wat, Penan Community: January 2009: Juman (50+)

“…certainly, land and forest are very important to our community…we are required by our adat (custom) to use them carefully (read sustainably) so that our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy the same things as us…”

Sekapan Pitt , Sekapan Community (October 2009): Babai Gumang (42)

“…when to use our land and forest, we have to abide by our custom to use them carefully. This is to protect the interest of our future generation. We also feel happy living in the forest because it gives us a sense of belonging…” 47 Batu Bungan (Penan Community) (February 27, 2011) : Ukau Lupung (52)

“We will not sell our land for any amount the developers are willing to pay because we owe a responsibility to our children and future generation to protect it for their benefits…”

Long Apok located in Long Urun (Penan Community) (May 29, 2008): Junie Lating (60+) Longhouse’s Chief

“Surely we love our lands and forests because we cannot be separated from them… This is our ancestral home and it gives us most of the things we needed. We have to take very good care of them or else our children will blame us in the future…”

Long Bala (Seping, minority Kenyah ethnic tribe) (May 28, 2008 ): Lenjau Lian (7th Generation Longhouse Chief)

“I can’t remember when we have settled down here but it is at least more than 700 years ago. We have been living together with our lands and forests throughout our life. Our forefathers are also buried here. Surely, these traditional resources are rreplaceable. They cannot be bought or sold as we like because they belong to our community… we owe a duty under our adat 48 to use them properly for the benefits of our children...” Long Lawen, Kenyah Community (2009): Gara Jalong (Longhouse Chief)

“Land and forest are our Datuk Nenek Moyang Temuda (ancestral domain). We have a total area of 21,700 hectares of forests, and out of these, 11,900 hectares are marked as completely preserved areas. These are our communal forests and we are required under our adat (custom or moral codes) to protect them for the benefits of our future generations. Our Datuk Nenek Moyang (ancestor) in the surrounding areas seems to be watching us closely whether we are observing this duty or not…”

“In order to use our land resources sustainably, each household, depending on the size of its family, uses about 10 to 20 acres of the secondary forests for shifting cultivation (swidden agriculture). The same piece of land is used over and over again after it is allowed to replenish. In this way, we are able to manage our lands and forests in a sustainable way…Also, we go hunting, fishing and gathering of forest produce near the secondary forests. The nature here is a ‘green bank’ for our daily sustenance.. “ 49 50 Shifting cultivation

51 Conclusions

52 The HoB bioregional Green Economy transition necessarily involved the ethical engagement with nature when optimizing the economic use of the environment

Economy

Social Environment

53 Environmental ethics

Encourage policy makers to assume greater responsibility for prudent use of natural resources while promoting economic growth

Encourage people to implement the 3-R concepts to promote resource efficient and sustainable society

54 Acknowledgment: This work was supported by the MEXT*－Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private University, 2014-2018 (*Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan)