Posted on April, 12 2018

The Government of Sintang held the Second Public Consultation of Serawai-Ambalau District Environmental and Forestry Regions (Kawasan Strategis Kabupaten Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan/KSK-LHK), 11-12 April 2018. This event is a follow-up to the Regional Regulation no. 20/1995 on Spatial Plans (Rencana Tata Ruang Wilayah/RTRW) of Sintang Regency.

The public consultation was held with numbers of goals; among other things is to collect suggestions, evaluations and recommendations from the parties to improve the documents of KSK-LHK in Serawai Ambalau. 

“We hope that this event can give provide understanding to the parties present, related to the purpose and objectives and content of the Spatial Plans of KSK-LHK in Serawai-Ambalau and the contents of Spatial Plans Policy to be more detailed and operational," said the Regent of Sintang, Jarot Winarno.
 
According to Jarot, the Regional Regulation no. 20/1995 has clarified the direction of utilization and control of space for various development interests. In the context of controlling the use of space, it has also determined four Environmental and Forestry Regions. Namely the Region for economic interests (Agropolitan), Economic Interests (Agriculture and Plantation), Tourism Interests, and Environmental Interest and Forestry.
 
KSK-LHK is a region with important values for environmental sustainability. Spatial planning of this area is prioritized because it gives a significant influence on environmental conditions within the district.

"We plan the location in Serawai and Ambalau sub-districts to cover an area of ​​781,788.74 hectares. This region plays a strategic role as a protected area of ​​life support system, especially protection for downstream areas," he said.

WWF-Indonesia has partnered with Sintang Regency since August 2017, assisting local governments in the preparation of technical and academic documents and the Strategic Environmental Review (Kajian Lingkungan Hidup Strategis/KLHS) of KSK-LHK Serawai and Ambalau. 

"Previously, for 2 years (2014-2015) WWF and Sintang Regency have also cooperated in Spatial Layout arrangement of Sintang Regency which has been set at the end of 2015 through Local Regulation No. 20 of 2015," said Program Manager of West Kalimantan, WWF-Indonesia, Albertus Tjiu. 

Moreover, he explained that the KSK-LHK is also an important area in the protection of ecological sustainability in Sintang District, where the Muller Ecosystem Area (Kawasan Ekosistem Muller/KEM) which is the national strategic area (Kawasan Strategis Nasional/KSN) of the Heart of Borneo (HoB), as the main protection zone. This policy directive is also a realization of the Kalimantan Spatial Plan policy contained in Presidential Regulation Number 3 of 2012.

The Program Coordinator of Muller-Schwaner Arabela, WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program, Uray M. Hasbi said that WWF technically provides support and assistance to the district government in field data collection, conducting socialization and consultation meetings at the sub-district level, even visited several villages in both sub-districts to see the factual conditions in the field. 

"A direct visit to a location or village that is an important area of ​​the KSK-LHK is important to ensure that detailed spatial planning for the next 20 years is already accommodating the aspirations of the community by looking at and assessing the potential and existing field conditions", said Hasbi .

In realizing the objectives of spatial planning, Hasbi said, there are at least five strategies to approach. The five approaches include: (i) Development of the function of the area as an important biodiversity protection site; (ii) Development of the function of the area as an important ecosystem reserve; (iii) Development of area functions as an important landscape safeguard; (iv) the realization of the area as an area that provides protection against the source of basic needs of local communities, and; (v) The realization of the area as a region that provides protection against the interests of local customs and culture.


For further Information, please contact:
Uray M. Hasbi (Muller Schwaner Arabela Landscape Program Coordinator)
WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program
Jl. Karna Sosial Gg. Wonoyoso II No. 3 - Pontianak
Mobile: 0811574488 | E-mail: umhasbi@wwf.id