Law, Land, and the Natural Environment in the Kedungombo Greenbelt Area at the Central Javanese Village of Giliredjo

Abstract

After a dam was built in Central Java, Indonesia, farmers who elected to move to higher ground rather than resettle in a another region remain poor and practice agricultural techniques that promote soil erosion. Due to population pressure and the lack of arable land, displaced villagers are cultivating greenbelt areas and tidal lands around the reservoir, encouraged by the government, which granted them oral permission to do so in order to calm unrest generated by farmers' complaints over the meager monetary compensation they received for lands flooded by the dam. Although the government requires farmers to plant tree crops, villagers are also planting annual crops to meet daily food needs, thus promoting erosion and rapid silting of the reservoir.

Mbesuk ing rejaning zaman yen ono iwak bader mangan manggar iku pratanda tlatah kene bakal antuk kemakmuran

(Tomorrow, in modern times, when the bader fish eats coconut flowers, that is a sign that prosperity will come to this area)