History of Reserve encroachment

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2. Case study 2 : Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve

2.1. History of Reserve encroachment

Cikepuh wildlife reserve area is one of a number of natural reserves in West Java Province which was established under the Minister of Forestry Decree No.523KptsUm101973 on April 1973, covering areas of 8127.5 Ha. Part of the reserve area was an oil palm plantation which was developed in 1911. After a while, in 1921, the Dutch government announced the area was designated as protected forest, after having an agreement with the oil palm plantation administration. Before the establishment the area as wildlife reserve, some people have been settled within the area. It was reported that in 1970, some people converted the reserve into agricultural land and settlement. Most of them are still staying within the reserve till now. Even though the area was established in 1973, the border gazetment just started in 1985. In 1986 illegal forest conversion of about 42.5 ha was also reported. During the el-Nino in 1998, forest fire also occurred, however, the magnitude of the forest fire was not reported. In 1999, a huge forest encroachment coordinated by an NGO occured in the reserve Pikiran Rakyat. 2002 After Regional autonomy, the reserve encroachment have been continuing, even with greater scale. It was reported that the encroachment was coordinated by an NGO. Thousands of people were entered to the area. Based on the interview and reports, the people who are entered into the Reserve originated from other District area, which are far from Cikepuh Wildlife reserve, such as Garut, Cianjur, and Tasikmalaya Figure. 15.7. Summary of the history of reserve encroachment is presented in Table 15.5. F igure 15.7. Origin of people who were entering Cikepuh wildlife reserve 200 Table 15.5. Summary of the History of Policy and Its Implication to Cikepuh Reserve No Year Description 1. 1911 The Dutch government developed Oil Palm plantation 2. 1921 Decree of Dutch Governor No.69;II.i.3 on Cikepuh Protected Forest 3. 1922 Agreement on the protected area border with the Oil palm plantation administration 4. 1970 Some parts of the area were converted into settlement Cikarang Cimerak, and now 183 families are still occupying the area 5. 1973 Gazetment of the reserve by Decree of Agriculture Ministry No. 523KptsUm101973 , the area is 8127.5 Ha. 6. 1975 Settlement development in the coastal area 7. 1980s 42.6 Ha of Forest area were illegally converted into agriculture land, and 2 ha for settlement 8. 1985 Reserve border gazetment, man made border 26.5 km. Naturally reserve border 5.97 9. 19861987 Encroachment and conversion the reserve to agricultural land 42.5Ha 10. 1997 Economis crisis 11. 1998 Forest fire 12. 1998 Rehabilitation movement with multi purposes tree species 13. 1998 The People Representative Assembly gave a mandate to the President on Regional autonomy 14. 1999 Transition period of Regional autonomy 15. 1999 Large conversion of Wildlife reserve started. It was reported thet the encroachment was coordinated by an NGO. Thousands of people entered into the reserve. 16. 2001 Implementation of Regional autonomy 17. 2001 Perhutani National Forest Estate Company conducted forest rehabilitation of about 143 ha 18. 2002 Perhutani National Forest Estate Company conducted forest rehabilitation of about 101 ha 201

2.2. Land-use Land cover change