Changes in producers of ebony (Diospyros celebica): A case study of central Sulawesi, Indonesia

This study focuses on the changes in timber producers of Indonesia particularly after enforcement of the Basic forestry Law in 1967. Ebony production in Central Sulawesi is selected as the case. The most important sources of data are a list of small scale incense holders tendered by the provincial forest service and interviews to key informants from different parties as well. Trade of ebony provided from Central Sulawesi can be traced back to the nineteenth century. It drastically expanded after the Basic forestry Law which regulated two main systems for timber production: large scale license (HPH) controlled by the central government and small scale license (HPHH) issued by the local governments. The already existing organizations, together with new enterprises first rushed to obtain HPHH and continued traditional labor-intensive production system. With application of detailed regulation against uncontrolled HPHH in 1974, some of ebony producers could acquire HPH, under financial and technical support from timber importers in Japan. They monopolized the forest area, particularly ebony resource in Central Sulawesi, which caused disputes against HPHH. The only possible ways of solution for HPHH were to be reorganized as contractors under HPH, or to make use of durable quality of ebony and claim their rights on ebony wood felled in the past, though there were no means to prove it. In accordance with the rising price of ebony in Japan, such social disorder expanded. Co-existence f traditional producers and HPH ended in 1987, when the government banned ebony logging for all to settle the dispute. The small scale producers were demolished. Logging companies vested with HPH could survive by shifting to timer production of other species, but are now facing exhausting forest resources. Only people of minor ethnic groups in the forests remained unchanged, with making use of infrastructure established by logging companies