FROM COMPULSORY CULTIVATION TO COMPULSORY CUTTING: REVEALING THE SUCCESS OF CULTUURSTELSEL IN DEVELOPING JAVA
FROM
COMPULSORY CULTIVATION TO COMPULSORY LOGGING: REVEALING THE SUCCESS OF
CULTUURSTELSEL IN DEVELOPING JAVA
By: Dr. Budi Rianto, Drs. M.Si., a
Postgraduate lecturer at Hang Tuah University, Surabaya.
The repeated flash floods and landslides
that have occurred in various regions of Indonesia in recent times, including
in Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and West Java, demonstrate that since
independence, this nation has been unable to develop sound spatial and
ecological landscape governance. Even one year after the formation of the
Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, we are heading towards a
crisis point of counterproductive spatial management. The results of
deforestation, evidenced by the flood-damaged logs and the dislocation of homes
affected by the disaster, demonstrate that we have experienced massive losses
and even economic decline amidst the expansive ruling regime in developing oil
palm plantations. It's ironic that, at a time when modern technology, with
drones and satellites as tools for accurate topographic mapping, and public
budgets for infrastructure development have increased exponentially, the cost
of public funds is increasing. And as the discourse of sustainable development
becomes increasingly popular in international forums, in Indonesia, we are
experiencing environmental destruction that is heading towards destruction. We
are seeing an increasing intensity of disasters and damage.
This phenomenon often raises the
question: Why, during the Dutch colonial period, with much simpler technology,
was Java able to manage its agrarian landscape, spatial planning, and water
management so well that flash floods rarely occurred, and Java is now the most
developed and prosperous island, serving as a food barn compared to other
islands? Could the Cultuurstelsel era provide important lessons about spatial
planning that have now been forgotten? This opinion piece attempts to address
these questions from the perspectives of spatial planning, agrarian history,
and sustainable economic development.
The
Legacy of Spatial Planning during the Cultuurstelsel Era: A Planned, Measured,
and Coordinated System
The colonial Cultuurstelsel program
(1830–1870) left deep socio-economic scars for the Indonesian people,
particularly on Java, which was under Dutch control at the time. However, it
cannot be denied that this colonial system fostered a highly organized agrarian
spatial structure, particularly on Java. Several important elements that can be
explored in this paper are:
1.
A
well-integrated irrigation system across villages, which the colonial
government built and improved with the involvement of local rulers (kings),
particularly the Kings of Yogyakarta and Solo, who successfully became
conglomerates amidst the established feudal social system of the time. Various
well-integrated development elements include: a. Weirs, such as Colo Weir,
Katulampa Weir, and Walahar Weir; b. A network of primary and secondary canals
and canals; c. Terracing and erosion control in hilly areas; and d. Water
Boards (water management organizations) at the local level within village
governments led by Jogo Tirto. This irrigation is not only for agriculture, but
also a water conservation system that slows down surface flow, so that the
water current does not simply erode the surface of the land which causes
uncontrolled erosion, as a basic principle in flood mitigation.
2.
Strict
land zoning, in this case, should be implemented by the Coordinating Minister
for Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning (ATR), to prevent land degradation
and widespread damage, resulting in massive socio-economic losses for the surrounding
community. During the colonial period, the Cultuurstelsel program strictly
enforced land zoning through a clear separation of spatial functions: 1.
Protected forests, 2. State plantation areas, 3. Rural areas, 4. Water and
irrigation areas, and 5. Roads and logistics routes. With strict enforcement of
this zoning, the government closely monitors various spatial planning
violations and imposes administrative and criminal penalties. Forest areas on
mountain slopes are strictly guarded as water catchments, making unauthorized land
clearing nearly impossible.
3.
Using
soil conservation-based plantation management, the Dutch colonial government
developed tea, coffee, and cinchona plantations in Priangan, Malabar, Puncak,
and other mountainous areas. These plantations were well-designed, following
soil contours, supporting vegetation, natural drainage, and inter-block green
belts to enhance productivity and economic growth. This plantation model
effectively implemented modern agroforestry principles, which protect soil from
erosion and maintain infiltration, and prevented floods and landslides, which
were detrimental to communities, regions, and even the country itself,
resulting in unexpected costs and the loss of countless economic assets, such
as valuable timber, landslides, damaged transportation infrastructure, and the
resulting economic disruptions caused by these disasters, as well as
incalculable recovery costs.
4.
Detailed
topographic and hydrological mapping: Under the Cultivation System (Cultuurstelsel)
program, the Dutch colonial government developed highly precise, large-scale
topographic maps (Topographische Dienst, 1850–1940). This data serves as the
basis for determining where settlements are developed, the transportation
routes they use, plantation development suitable for the soil type, and
upstream river conservation management. So, in this modern era with advanced
technology, Indonesia's modern spatial planning is often problematic due to
weak geomorphological and hydrological databases.
This
appears to be due to the lack of comprehensive coordination in regional
development and land conservation, as ecological spaces that must be maintained
in balance:
1.
The
construction of toll roads as an accelerator of land conversion, including the Trans
Sumatra and Trans Java projects, and various other strategic projects, has
accelerated economic access. However, what is unavoidable is the occurrence of:
a. Massive forest clearing for economic gain, b. Expansion of oil palm
plantations without comprehensive ecological management, c. Encroachment on
protected areas without considering the area's hydrological aspects, d.
Regional planning without comprehensive construction for new settlements in
flood-prone areas, resulting in the absence of ecological zoning, which has
become a trigger for disasters that harm all parties, rather than a driver of
sustainable growth.
2.
Spatial
planning law enforcement, a number of cases demonstrate weak law enforcement,
for example: a. Illegal development in catchment areas, b. Residential
development in river basins, c. Development of plantations or businesses that
encroach on protected forests, d. and most importantly, land conversion without
strict Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures. When spatial planning
violations are not firmly addressed, environmental degradation becomes the norm
and is no longer considered an anomaly.
3.
The
absence of upstream-downstream integration. This occurs because most recent
development plans, despite the presence of a Coordinating Minister for Agrarian
and Spatial Planning (ATR), focus more on: a. Project location rather than
landscape, b. Prioritizing short-term profits over long-term risks, c.
Prioritizing investment value over ecological costs. However, if mismanaged,
the impact can be devastating, as flash floods are a structural problem that
arises when upstream areas are damaged and downstream areas are densely
populated.
Lessons from
Colonial Java for Trans-Sumatera Indonesia Today.
To develop the
island of Sumatra as a further development of the successful Trans-Sumatra Toll
Road, several aspects must be considered, referring to the Cultuurestelsel
program documents from the FAO Historical Agricultural Records and the
Koloniaal Verslag 1905. These include the following:
1.
Spatial planning must be based on ecological landscapes.
In the Cultuurstelsel program, the Dutch
government considered several aspects in determining spatial planning: a.
topography, b. infiltration capacity, c. erosion vulnerability, d. river flow
patterns, and e. rainfall. This planning is not solely carried out for
investment purposes.
2.
The designation of upstream areas must be uncompromising.
Protected
forests are strictly maintained as perpetually protected areas, as are watershed
buffer zones, related to water availability in green belts and mandatory forest
belts. In these areas, plantations, villas, or large-scale developments in
upstream areas are prohibited unless rigorous studies have been conducted.
3.
Road development must be integrated with conservation.
Toll
road development should be accompanied by mandatory green corridor development,
equipped with mass infiltration areas to avoid landslide-prone areas, and of
course, followed by measured reforestation. Zoning is essential to prevent
illegal commercial development in the surrounding areas.
4.
Irrigation and drainage must again be a national priority.
During the
colonial era of irrigation in Java, regional development always included: a.
water conservation for agriculture and food conservation, irrigation systems
equipped with flood mitigation systems, and b. canal networks equipped with
river flow control devices to effectively manage water flow during both the dry
and rainy seasons. In this regard, the government must revive colonial-era
water management, adapting it to a more modern format. We must avoid what is
happening in Iran today, where a city no longer has water for its livelihoods,
forcing the city and its residents to relocate to other areas for new settlements.
5.
Spatial planning law enforcement must be independent and consistent.
Environmental law enforcement is crucial
because without it, all spatial planning theories are meaningless. Therefore,
there must be strict sanctions against forest destroyers, law enforcement, and
the eviction of illegal structures in watersheds. Environmental audits must be
mandatory for large-scale projects, and the courage to revoke permits for
plantations that will damage upstream areas without proper conservation
measures must be in place.
The
Importance of Revitalizing Sustainable Development (SDGs)
We cannot ignore
the need for economic development, industrialization, toll roads, and the
development of new agricultural and plantation areas to increase food security
and the availability of affordable food. However, development that ignores
ecological risks ultimately destroys the economy itself and can even lead to
economic decline for the nation and state, triggering food crises, economic
crises, and even social crises, including looting, robbery, and other forms of
economic injustice. Flash floods have a far-reaching impact, damaging national
infrastructure, destroying household economies, depleting rehabilitation
budgets, causing loss of labor productivity, and even creating new,
uncontrolled structural impoverishment. This demonstrates that what is
considered "profitable" by certain parties, whether palm oil
investors or other business groups, is actually far more detrimental
nationally.