Step 2. Define the problem

Welcome to the palm oil jungle!

On the previous post, I have described how pristine forest in Indonesia has been burned to make palm oil plantation. Figure 1 below is one of the palm oil farm which is seemed like palm oil forest.

Figure 3. Palm oil plantation with its refinery (Source:http://blogs.reuters.com/russell-boyce/files/2010/08/RTR2H73B.jpg)

 As you can see from Figure 1 that shows how pristine forest has been changed into palm oil forest. Indonesia is the world leading crude palm oil (CPO) producer with production of 24,37 million tonnes of CPO (US$ 13,5 million) which is followed by Malaysia with (US$ 12,4 million) (Sekretariat Kabinet RI, 2013). Indonesia aims to increase CPO production into 40 million tonnes in 2020. It is claimed that it will support economic development in Indonesia, increase employment sector, and reduce poverty. However, Indonesia as a home to the richest biodiversity in the world has another goal that should be reached, environmental protection. Rain forest and peat land in Indonesia are among the great carbon sequestration places which consequently can reduce greenhouse gas emission. Indonesia government has planned for peat land conservation to commit with international agreement such as Kyoto Protocol. On the other hand, the government expands the palm oil plantation area which opposes to the conservation of peat land and rain forest. Table 1 shows the advantages and disadvantages of palm oil plantation which notices trade offs between different interests.

Table 1. Trade off in palm oil industry

Advantages	Disadvantages
Profitable industry	Threatens traditional livelihoods
Eliminate poverty	Vulnerable to exploitation, distortion, and market instabilities
Funding for forest protection	Biodiversity loss
Renewable energy source	Increase carbon emission

Source: (Sheil, D., Casson, A., Meijaard, E., van Nordwijk, M. Gaskell, J., Sunderland-Groves, J.,, 2009)

That table is similar to the one on the previous posting which indicates pros and cons around palm oil plantation. Many NGOs, companies, and community promote either support and oppose palm oil. They ban palm oil due to deforestation which harm indigenous species like Borneo orang utan and Sumatran tiger. Others support palm oil due to its large profit supporting economic development. These issues have led to dispute which make more and more environmental destruction.

So, what is the actual problem of this palm oil plantation controversy? How we approach it in a better way to provide solution which can improve the environment? How we manage different interests among stakeholders? Figure 1 describes how palm oil scheme becomes a controversy. 

 

Figure 2. Palm oil scheme

The palm oil scheme on Figure 1 demonstrates how palm oil has connection with our life. This implicates how all is interconnected to each other which makes palm oil dispute.

IEM framework provides a method to define an environmental problem in a comprehensive way considering three important aspects in environmental realm: environment, institutional, and policy. 

Figure 3. IEM Framework (Source: Lecture’s Note ERST 633, 2013)

As we can see from the IEM framework that define the problem is not easy because we have to think broadly to ensure that all aspects are included. Most of environmental problems tend to be solved even before the real problem is identified. Bardwell (1991) said that 90% of environmental solution solves the wrong problem and too fast to move into solution before the problem has been agreed (Bardwell, 1991). It means that solution cannot solve the problem because the problem itself is unknown. The lack of comprehensive thinking about the problem results in solving the problem partially which causes another problem. People tend to be excited to find solution but not to define what the real problem is. People are likely more interested in the result than in the process need to be quick because time is money. However, too quickly to move into solution before the problem is clearly defined may lead to more money to spent due to inaccurate solution. Thus, problem definition is essential in IEM process in order to achieve appropriate solution of the problem. 

Furthermore, environmental problems are ‘wicked’ due to the complex system of environmental components and many interests on the environment. Buhrs (1995) suggested an approach in IEM by thinking broadly by incorporated environmental, institutional, and policy analyses (Buhrs, 1995). This notion emphasizes that solution to an environmental problem should be framed by considering those three aspects (environmental, institutional, policy) or triple bottom line (environment, social, economy). In addition, Swaffield (1998) provided a problem framing method as a frame of reference which analyses the attitude of individual in expressing something about a problem or an issue (Swaffield, 1998).  He set up a common frame of reference which can be used to analyse a specific resource management issue. It is presented in Figure 3.

 

Figure 4. Common frames of reference (Source: Swaffield, 1998: 498)

Those frames are undertaken by interviewing decision-makers and decision influencers in an environmental issue to get their views and opinions (Swaffield, 1998). It will help to get a real problem definition and what is the expected outcome from key stakeholders in an environmental case.

I will try to apply some of those problem definition methods in palm oil issue in order to implement IEM framework. Next posting will be still about problem framing which I don’t suppose to be in more than 1 posting. However, due to the complex method of problem definition, it may need some postings to discuss the issue around it.

References

Bardwell, L. V. (1991). Problem-Framing: A Perspective on Environmental Problem-Solving. Environmental Management, Vol 15 No 5, 603-612.

Buhrs, T. (1995). Integrated Environmental Management: Towards A Framework For Application. 1-19. Christchurch: Environmental Management and Design Division, Lincoln University.

Sekretariat Kabinet RI. (2013, July 2). Indonesia Berkomitmen Bangun Industri Kelapa Sawit Berkelanjutan (Indonesia committed to build sustainable palm oil industry). Retrieved from http://setkab.go.id: http://setkab.go.id/berita-9308-indonesia-berkomitmen-bangun-industri-kelapa-sawit-berkelanjutan.html

Sheil, D., Casson, A., Meijaard, E., van Nordwijk, M. Gaskell, J., Sunderland-Groves, J.,. (2009). The impacts and opportunities of oil palm in Southeast Asia: What do we know and what do we need to know? Occasional paper No. 51. Retrieved September 30, 2013, from http://www.cifor.org: http://www.cifor.org

Swaffield, S. (1998). Frames of Reference: A Metaphor for Analyzing and Interpreting Attitudes of Environmental Policy Makers and Policy Influences. Environmental Management, Vol. 22 No. 4 , 495-504.