In Search of Sustainable Plantation Forestry, Pulp and Paper in ASEAN: Political Economy Analyses on Stakeholders

Abstract

The monographic report is entitled:"In Search of Sustainable Plantation Forestry, Pulp and Paper in ASEAN: Political Ecology Analyses on Stakeholders". Actually the word "Sustainable" is not as new to the forestry profession. In simple word "sustainability" involves ensuring opportunities for a desirable "quality of life" for future generations as well as or the present one. Human's quality life of life includes not only the economic dimension but also covers the ecological and the social. In line with this definition, related to sustainable plantation forestry is a process and include economic, social and ecological. The conceptual operation of 'sustainable forestry' is means to analyses the stakeholders role (the government, private sector, academics, NGOs, local communities/farmers) manage and interact each other to provide timber as raw material of pulp and paper industries among ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam). To supply timber sustainability among private companies cooperate with farmers based on 'contract farming' and plant trees by their own self. As a result, Indonesia is the largest pulp and paper producer among ASEAN countries. Among ASEAN countries, based on the field work findings, do not integrated practice of sustainable forestry. Even most private companies highlight economic benefit than ecological and social dimension. The ecological dimension, which emphasizes forest conservation and maintaining bio-diversity, the government, international donors, NGOs and local communities in respective ASEAN countries more responsible. The paper focused how stakeholders movement on managing timber plantation and pulp and paper as raw material to supply industries; how government provides economic incentive and the response among private companies , NGOs, cooperative sector officers, and local communities to response the government's policy.