There is not a single institution that has a full authority over watershed management from upstream to downstream

Samarinda, East Kalimantan (ANTARA) – The Environment and Forestry Ministry has underlined the importance of multi-party involvement for improving Mahakam Watershed in East Kalimantan and half of North Kalimantan since its water quality has declined in the past several years.

“While Mahakam Watershed is not included within the 15 critical and urgent priority watersheds for recovery in Indonesia, its existence still deserves attention,” ministry official Selly Oktas Hariany Ayub said here on Monday.

In addition to a decline in the quality of water, there has been an increase in critical land and silting in Mahakam Watershed, which often results in floods and droughts.

The management of the watershed and recovery of critical land will not necessarily solve Mahakam Watershed’s issues since the institutional aspect or behaviour is the main problem in its management.

The institutional aspect is considered important because watershed landscape is cross-administrative. In other words, the watershed boundary does not match the administrative boundary.

“There is not a single institution that has a full authority over watershed management from upstream to downstream,” Ayub informed.

“Institutional system coherency can realize cohesiveness in watershed management,” she added.

She said she expects the new national capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan to expedite development, which will lead to a population increase.

If this is not followed by accurate water resource management policies, there could be a decline in the water resource supporting power within Nusantara or supporting regions.

According to Mahakam Watershed Forum head Mislan, 30 floods were recorded across East Kalimantan from 2020 to 2021, which affected more than 80 million people.

The affected regions encompassed entire districts and cities, including the area designated as Nusantara.

“The important issue that must be considered in the management of water resource in East Kalimantan is the weak coordination, integration, synchronization, and synergy,” Mislan said during the ‘Mahakam Watershed Management Study Discussion’ on Friday.

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