The Covid-19 challenge and indigenous wisdom solutions
By: Wimar Witoelar
OK, let's talk (yet again) about clean energy and indigenous peoples-environment. Some people might say I'm biased since I am a consultant working for Batang Toru Hydro Electric Power Plant in North Sumatra. But the underlying logic is too clear to be ignored. Clean energy infrastructure and environment protection can and should coexist. It is baffling that some still believe the two are in contradiction. Thus the topic warrants repeating.
As the United Nations celebrates the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, we are once more reminded of the link between environmental damage and pandemics. Many indigenous peoples have warned over decades about increasing threats to natural heritage so important for their survival. Through their local wisdom and their relationship to nature, they have long known that environmental neglect can trigger disease.
We are still in the midst of the combat against the spread of the pandemic, and in this context it is more important than ever to listen to indigenous peoples, and safeguard their local wisdom. Their territories are home to the vast majority of the world's biodiversity. They can tell us a lot about how to rebalance our relationship with nature and reduce the risk of future pandemics. The International Indigenous Peoples Forum for World Heritage addresses the close links between nature and culture, biological and cultural diversity.
Indigenous peoples are looking for their own solutions to this pandemic. They take action and use local wisdom i.e. traditional knowledge and practices such as voluntary isolation and closure of their territories, as well as other preventive measures.
Once again, they have demonstrated their high capacity to adapt in spite of the exceptionally difficult context. This is why this year's anniversary theme is “COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples' Resilience”. A virtual event organized by the UN includes a panel discussion on innovative ways Indigenous peoples continue to demonstrate resilience and strength in the face of the pandemic, while also coping with the serious threats to their survival.
The perspective comes at the right time. Conventional thinking does not provide a way out of the COVID-19 conundrum. We are engaged in a permanent deadlock unless everybody comes together and finds a solution that is to everybody's agreement. After six months there is a feeling that there is no simple solution unless it is done together. Fortunately the genius of the problem is that the solution is right there for those who appreciate the traditional wisdom of the indigenous peoples.
Forests and trees provide income, livelihoods and well-being for rural populations, particularly indigenous peoples, small farm holders, and other forest-dependent communities that live near forests. Forests mitigate climate change by removing about a third of the global greenhouse gas emissions each year. Furthermore, the forestry sector produces essential products and services which underpin public health the world over.
No war, no recession, no previous pandemic has had such a dramatic impact on emissions of CO2 over the past century as Covid-19 has in a few short months. Since the Spanish flu killed millions of people over 100 years ago, the global expansion of emissions of CO2, from the use of oil, gas and coal has risen massively.
We live in a digital world now. It is not wise to ignore the importance of mastering digital technology in competition with other nations. But that doesn't mean that we can ignore the positive aspects of the local wisdom our ancestors have taught us. A Dayak Iban community leader named Apai Janggut once said that the forest is a "supermarket" from nature where we can get a lot of things that we need. He probably didn't think of energy sources at that time.
And yet it is also true that we can also get clean energy from the forest. Take the case of the Batang Toru Hydro Electric Project in North Sumatra, which is expected to generate 410 MW from run-of-the-river technique, avoiding the necessity of creating large reservoirs. It also means avoiding the large-scale environmental disruption and preserving the natural habitat.
It will act to mitigate climate change as it makes available the additional power critically needed for Sumatra’s development. While it was designed before planners were aware of the pandemic looming over the world, the project now beautifully serves two survival needs of Indonesian society: the Covid19 pandemic and the electrical power needs.
The pandemic has given us an enormous lesson, how certain circumstances have changed our daily life forever. Imagine how climate change will bring impact in our forthcoming life. Therefore, investing in renewable energy and adopting indigenous peoples' way of life would be beneficial to prevent catastrophic events in our future.
