Al.
Jakarta Globe Wednesday, April 1, 2009
E. Java Springs Could Be Tapped Out
As Farmers Convert Protected Forests
Fidel is E. Satriastanti
As many as 53 natural springs in
Batu, East Java Province, were
under increasing threat from
widespread redevelopment of
protected forests into plantations,
an agroforestry specialist said on
Tuesday.
Arief Lukman Hakim, a spe-
cialist from the East Java chapter
of the Environmental Services
Program, said the city had about
110 springs but half of those had
already been disrupted because
of the land conversion.
Batu, a hilly resort city located
about 15 kilometers from Malang,
is considered crucial for water
availability in East Java because
the longest running river in the
province, the Brantas River, orig-
inates in the area.
The 320-kilometer river has a
water catchment area of about
12,000 square kilometers and
plays an important role in sup-
porting the lives of 13.7 million
people, almost half of the prov-
ince's population, who live near
or along its banks.
Separated from the surround-
ing Malang district in 2001, Batu
is famous for its natural tourist
attractions, with an abundance of
waterfalls and caves.
Arief said the land changes
would affect the river's water
output, exacerbating the differ-
ence between dry and rainy sea-
son water flows.
"We are not facing a drought
in the dry season but it could re-
sult in conflicts between local
farmers," he said. "If the water
discharge is running slowly or
not at all, it would affect the irri-
gation systems and, of course,
this will fuel the competition be-
tween them. This is already hap-
peninghere
He said the survival of the
Brantas river system also depend-
ed on the Raden Suryo Forest and
Semeru National Park being
properly safeguarded, with the il-
legal occupation of protected for-
est land now becoming a major
problem threatening the exis-
tence of the springs.
"There has been massive de-
forestation here since the reform
era in 1998, when law enforce-
ment was very weak," Arief said.
"Unfortunately, it is still happen-
ing now and local villagers are
getting used to planting crops on
land in protected forest areas."
He said there was a common
misconception among locals that
the springs would never run out
of water. They can, he contended,
and said the time is ripe for ef-
forts to preserve the remaining
springs before it was too late.
While government officials
and residents were starting to
take measures to save the springs,
Arief said their actions were of-
ten challenged by local farmers
who were more concerned about
economic considerations than
conservation.
"It is hard to persuade farmers
not to plant in water catchment
areas," he said. "We must have a
strong compensation program if
we want them not to plant here
because they can earn as much as
Rp 750 million ($65,250) just by
planting carrots."
He said such crops only need-
ed three months before theywere
ready to be harvested.