Collaborative Environmental Project in Indonesia

ENVIRONMENTAL INTELLIGENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

LAND RESOURCES FOR THE FUTURE:

Strategies for Addressing Land Degradation in The Jeneberang Watershed, Indonesia

by: Erik Teguh Primiantoro

(e-mail address: thiaerik@hotmail.com)

A Major Paper for Master of Environmental Studies Degree

York University, 2000 

An ecosystem approach to land resource management was applied to this study of the Jeneberang watershed, and a Rapid Rural Appraisal was used for data collection.  The research methods were used to answer the following research questions:

1. What, in general, is the nature of land degradation issues in the Jeneberang watershed, and what are the specific issues in the case study village Desa Sapaya, which is located within the Jeneberang watershed boundary?

2. What strategies should be used to address land degradation issues in this watershed?

Findings were that human activities have triggered, accelerated, and exacerbated land degradation in the Jeneberang watershed, and many people in this watershed tend to disrespect the environment.  Villagers have very little knowledge of ecosystem concerns and use poor agriculture technologies.   In addition, the institutional and organizational protective mechanisms are weak and inappropriate. The main types of land degradation that occur in the Jeneberang watershed consist of deforestation and soil erosion.  These environmental problems disrupt the four fundamental processes -- the water cycle, mineral cycle, energy flow, and community dynamics, and threaten the watershed’s ecosystem integrity.

Changes in human behaviours are required if the objectives of sustainable development in this watershed are to be achieved.  This study recommends the establishment of working groups at the watershed and community levels to facilitate such changes.  These working groups are an effective means of carrying out action learning.

Through this action learning process, all members of these working groups can develop their values that respect and care for the environment.  They can enhance and improve their knowledge and understanding of the watershed ecosystem.  Moreover, they can develop technologies for sustainable agriculture and establish an institutional ecosystem.

Top

Home | History | Project Scope | Technical Assistance | Pilot Projects | Publications | Connections | Comments

Top / Next