A Challenge of Environmental Management

By Anton Sri Probiyantono

Based on its causes, the problem of environment is classified into two main groups, i.e.
problems caused by resource exploitation beyond the capacity of the nature to recover and
problems caused by urbanization, heavy concentration of human settlements and activities that
make the environment under serious pressure.

A case of Indonesia: Due to decentralization, all at once, local governments and local
constituents have been forced to take the responsibility to manage local environmental issues
using available resources. The capacity of local governments and local constituents can be
considered as critical issues that need serious attention. These influence the relationship quality
of “demand-supply” between the Local Authorities and Local Constituents in each related
region. Limited capacity contrasted against high level of stress occurred by the process of
urbanization and natural resource exploitation may be considered as the main constraints to
interfere the process of decentralization and global initiative transfer to local actions.

To consider the problems of local environmental management, it is necessary to classify the

region based on the degree of local governments’ capacity, local constituents’ capacity, natural
resource stresses, and urbanization stresses. To cover hundreds of regency and city, the study is
to pay attention to the capacity degree of governments in the provision of services per capita,
capacity degree of constituents in the involvement of participatory process, threats caused by
natural resource exploitation (forest and mining), and urbanization (population, population
growth, industry and transportation).

To simplify the process, the study uses weighted value from 0 (zero) for the lowest and 10 (ten)
for the highest. Each score shows the value presented in concerned data through this following
formula:

(x – xmin) Vx = The value of x

Vx = * 10
(xmax – xmin) X= Absolute variable
xmin = Minimum variable of data
Xmax = Maximum variable of data)

n
Σ Vxi (xc – xmin)
i=1 OR Vxc = * 10
(xmax – xmin)
Vxc =
n

Vx = Variable of score
xc = Mean of variable
Vxc = Mean of scores
Σ= Total calculation of all scores
n= Total number of regions that have related data (excl. regions that have no data)

+/- factor = Vxc * (1/3)

+/- factor = Factor for justifying the range of Middle Value

Vxc = Mean of scores
1/3 = Variable of three “assumed” divisions (High, Medium, and Low)

1
 Upper level of Medium: Lower Level of Medium:
and
UM = Vxc + factor LM = Vxc – factor

The capacity of the regional governments is identified through the financial distribution for
each person in related region. It is to follow the expenditure or the income stated in annual
budget divided by the number of population. It presents the strength of the governments to
access financial resources (tax/PAD, central allocation (DAU and DAK), grant, loan, etc.) and
provide services demanded by local communities. While the capacity of local constituents
(communities and private sectors) is analyzed through HDI (Human Development Index). It is
assumed that the statistical HDI has provided all related indicators on how the strength of the
local communities.

Threats of natural resources exploitation are interpreted from local economy activities
mentioned in PDRB (gross regional domestic product) focusing on mining and forestry sectors.
Although the figures may not show the level of pollution, they show the threats through
different angle. The higher the income, the higher is the threat. The higher the threat, the higher
the capacity of the government and the constituents is in need.

In the meantime, threats of urbanization are clearly presented through the number of
population, the growth of the population in the last 10 years, growth of industrial sector, and
growth of transportation. High growth of population has chained impacts towards environment,
health degree, food supply availability, and other aspects within. It is quite unique to
understand a fact that a flow of urbanization is to follow the activities of industry,
administration and natural resources exploitation.

Some regions may have high stress of natural resource exploitation, and/ or urbanization but
they are not fortunate to have high capacity to manage the problems. On the contrary, other
regions may have high capacity to provide services demanded by the constituents but people
are not interested in working in the area due to static condition that may occur. Industrial
activities, however, persuade more people to migrate and stay.