Civil society movement in the protection of the peat ecosystem of Meranti Islands, Riau – Indonesia

Government of Science, Universitas Riau, Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: tito.handoko@lecturer.unri.ac.id

Abstract

In a country’s democratic system, the existence of Civil Society Organizations is indispensable. Civil Society Organizations are sociopolitical institutions that can be used by the community to channel their goals and demands to influence or even shape government policy. In this scenario, Civil Society Organizations can be viewed in two ways, namely sectoral groups and regional groups. Both Groups aim to persuade the government to address issues of public interest in a timely manner. In addition to persuasion, civil society organizations can also carry out advocacy and even file lawsuits against the Government and companies for ecosystem damage. Regarding the issue of peat ecosystem damage, this issue has become a serious issue for the Indonesian government in the last two decades. Damage to peat ecosystems due to illegal encroachment, exploitation for the benefit of plantation companies and brutal conversions have damaged peat ecosystems in Indonesia. Cases of forest and land fires in the last two decades show that management of peat ecosystems is not carried out wisely, the majority of peatland fires occur within company concession areas and very few are due to community activities. Cases of forest and land fires are the most troubling phenomena, especially in Riau this issue even stretches to become a national and transnational issue when the impact of forest and land fires disrupts the activities of citizens of other countries (Singapore and Malaysia). This study analyzes the Meranti Islands civil society movement in protecting the peat ecosystem in the Meranti Islands, in particular, the case of damage to the Meranti Islands peat ecosystem is no longer a secret and needs serious attention from all parties. Various literature suggests that the civil society movement has become a steep road when dealing with authoritarian governments, but after Suharto, this movement has actually become a political force to influence and shape government policy. Likewise with the Meranti Islands civil society movement in efforts to protect the peat ecosystem.