GERAKAN LINGKUNGAN DI JAWA MASA KOLONIAL

Abstract

This article discusses the genesis of the environmental movement in Java during the Dutch colonial era. A number of studies voicing the importance of environmental protection and environment-related local wisdoms have appeared. But, little has been done to uncover the question of how the environmental movement developed and consolidated itself in Java. The neglect of environmental movement dimension causes a failure to transform cultural wisdoms and academic findings into powerful corrective force, useless like “weapon without soldier”. By emplyoing a historical method, this article aims at elaborating the genesis of environmental movement in Java, issues that were taken into focus in the movement and its real achievments during the Dutch colonial era. The argument is built on the basis of Dutch historical material sources in various forms especially archival materials, official and organisational publications, and complemetarily supported with relevant secondary sources. It is argued that the environmental movement in Java had European/Dutch elite as its major agent, evolved in line with the development of Western interests and understanding of colony functions in economic and non-economic terms, and made concret achievements in legal, orgsnizational-administrative, and practical terms.