The poor have often been blamed for environmental degradation, as being poor has caused them to destroy the environment. However, this study concludes that poverty is not the sufficient condition of the environmental degradaton. Is is only the necessary condition. The sufficient condition is the existence of a third party (big companies) that destroys the environment. The poor join the big companies because they see an oppurtunity to sustai their livelihood or even increase their income. We recommend three policies to be implemented simultaneously, in addition to the full enforcement of the laws against environmental degradation. First is to create alternative employment oppurtunities for the local people so thet they do not depend on activities which are harmful to their own environment. However, the people, including those from outside their area, may continue contibuting to the environmental destruction. The people may not be able to resist joining the big companies in the environmentally harmful activities destruction as long as their own income will rise. We cannot expect them to have a long vision.