Simplifying Natural Resources

The Indonesian state’s control over natural resources is rooted in the belief that these resources are the cornerstone of national development. This perspective, outlined in REPELITA IV’s 1988 Environment and Resource Management plan, emphasizes the state’s responsibility and authority in the exploitation and protection of natural resources. Consequently, the state employs both direct and indirect methods to exert control.

These involve the extraction and management of resources such as oil, timber, natural gas, gold, coal, rubber, and other forest products, particularly on Kalimantan Island. This direct control underscores the state’s view of Kalimantan as a vital source of raw materials essential for economic development, as stipulated in Article 33 of the Indonesian Constitution (UUD 1945).

These focus on regulating the behavior of the populace regarding environmental and resource management, aiming to indirectly enhance state control.

The state’s centralized control has marginalized the adat (customary) communities, undermining their traditional rights and management systems. National laws and uniform administrative structures have overridden local customs, reducing community access and control over natural resources and accelerating the shift from a subsistence economy to a monetary one.

To address these challenges, a holistic approach to natural resource management is necessary, balancing supply and demand and considering the diverse avenues for improving human welfare. This includes recognizing the role of authoritative resources, such as maps, in land use planning. While mapping has traditionally been a state monopoly, community mapping has emerged as a tool for local land and resource management.

This book investigates the dynamics between state-led and community-initiated mapping and land use planning. It explores whether state dominance persists in these areas or if community efforts can strengthen indigenous resource management practices. The study also examines the potential for a constructive state-community dialogue on natural resources management, facilitated by spatial strategies and mapping tools.