The Republic of Indonesia : an archipelago of over 13 667 islands
Area : 1 919 443 km2
Total population : 184,6 million (1989)
Independence : 17th August, 1950 (declared in 1945)
Official language : Indonesian, but all local languages are respected (art. 4 in the Constitution)
Administratively divided into 10 provinces
90% of world market for rattan
First world producer of plywood
Choice of presentation : the populations which we will discuss in this chapter live in Sumatra, Halmahera and Seram (Moluccas), and in Sulawesi (Celebes). The indigenous populations of Irian Jaya (New Guinea) and Kalimantan (Borneo) will be discussed in the relevant chapters on those areas.
Important facts :
Transmigration is one of the main factors in the destruction of traditional society. The process has proceeded furthest in Sumatra and the Celebes.
The predominant type of agriculture in Indonesia (except Java, Madura, Bali) is a mixture of swidden agriculture and cash cropping, and most of the agricultural export goods are produced by smallholders (MAC ANDREWS).
| Area
in km2
|
Forested
areas
|
%
of forest
|
Population
|
%.
of total population
|
ethnic
groups
| |
| Sumatra
|
473.606
|
247.350
|
52%
|
30.000.000
|
20%
|
21
|
| Mentawai,
w Sumatra
|
4.480
|
50.000
|
4
| |||
| Java
and Madura
|
132.187
|
26.980
|
20%
|
61,9%
|
||
| Bali
& Nusa Tenggara
|
88.488
|
15.240
|
21%
|
|||
| Kalimantan
|
539.460
|
397.740
|
74%
|
9.110.000
|
4,6%
|
38
|
| Sulawesi
|
189.216
|
75.650
|
40%
|
9.000.000
|
7%
|
22
|
| Maluku
(Halmahera, Seram)
|
74.505
|
58.720
|
79%
|
2.000.000
|
18
| |
| Irian
Jaya
|
421.981
|
315.000
|
75%
|
1.641.000
|
188
|
Forests are divided into state and privately owned forests, and are classified as follows :
- Permanent Forest (non-alienable)
Protected Forest
Wildlife Reserve Forest
Production Forest : ordinary
limited
- Alienable forest
- Alienated forest