NGO networking in Indonesia

Abstract

Introduction Environmental awareness is relatively a new phenomenon in Indonesia, having emerged only during the last decade. Indonesia has only recently embarked upon the path of industrialization, and has become aware of the types of dangers associated with this development from the experiences of other nations. Even so, pollution of the envi- ronment by industrial waste has appeared in several metropolitan and industrial areas in this country. Several large scale development projects, while increasing the pros- perity of part of the population, have also created environmental imbalances. Extractive industries, such as mining and logging, in addi- tion to depleting Indonesia's natural wealth, are creating havoc with local eco-systems. Use of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals bring many undesirable side-effects.