Capacity Development for Integrated River Basin Management in Indonesia with special reference to Central Kalimantan
Abstract
River basins sustain ecosystems, which are the main source of water for living and socio-economic development. On the other hand, integrated management refers to various essential management aspects to achieve a sustainable development of river basins. It includes the management of water demand and supply, upstream-downstream linkages, water and land resources development, as well as preserving and restoring the freshwater ecosystem. In this context the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), as an alternative and more effective approach to the common fragmented practices, is a concept that is receiving increasing attention. Managing changes from fragmented practices to an integrated approach is a paramount undertaking that a country should anticipated in managing its river basins. These changes in management concept required a capacity development at national level, down to the river basin level. Indonesia, like many other countries, has been gradually implementing capacity development since the early 1990s as part of its policy, strategies, and institutional reformed in water resources development and management. The whole Indonesia has been divided into 90 river basins, and currently they are in the various stages of the capacity development. Hence, it is providing opportunity for the less developed one for learning from the other river basins that more developed. This paper is an attempt to explore the capacity development progress of integrated management for river basins in Indonesia, and at the same time enabling to draw a pathway that need to be taken in managing river basins in Central Kalimantan.
Keywords: river basin, integrated management, capacity development
Integrated River Basin Management
A River Basin, Watershed, or Catchment is the geographic area from which water drains to a particular stream, river or body of water. The hilltops and ridges define the boundaries of a river basin. The river basin includes the ponds, wetlands and streams that store surface waters and is shaped by the fields, hills, valleys and towns which characterize its landscape.
It is also a community of people, plants and animals which rely on rainfall and the storage capability of that river basin to supply their water needs. A change in the river basins affects all living condition. As such, River Basin sustains ecosystems, which are the main source of water for living and socio-economic development. On the other hand, integrated management in the river basins refers to various essential management aspects to achieve a sustainable development of river basins. It includes the management of water demand and supply, upstream-downstream linkages, water and land resources development, as well as preserving and restoring the freshwater ecosystem. Hence, and also referring to the definition of Integrated Water Resources Management by Global Water Partnership, the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) can be defined as “The process of coordinating conservation, management and development of water, land and related resources within the river basins in order to maximize the resultant economic and social benefits in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems” [1]. Integrated river basin management is the implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) in a country, by applying river basins as a regional unit for the purpose of water resources planning and management.
The four guiding principles as stated in the 1992 Dublin Statement and Conference Report for a holistic, comprehensive, across sectors approach to water resources problems worldwide were as follows [1]:
• Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resources, essential to sustain life, development, and the environment;
• Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners, and policy makers at all levels;
• Women play a central part in the provision, management, and safe guarding of water; and
• Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognized as an economic good.
Capacity Development Initiatives for Water Resources Sector Reformed
Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), as an alternative and more effective approach to the common fragmented practices, is a concept that is receiving increasing attention. Managing changes from fragmented practices to an integrated approach is a paramount undertaking that a country should anticipated in managing its river basins. These changes in management concept required a capacity development at national level, for an Integrated Water Resources Management, and down to the river basin level for an Integrated River Basin Management. Indonesia, like many other countries, has been gradually implementing capacity development since the early 1990s as part of its policy, strategies, and institutional reformed in water resources development and management.
There are a range of definitions, both of capacity and capacity development. One of the simplest and most effective definitions of capacity comes from UNDP that capacity is the ability of individuals and organizations to perform functions effectively, efficiently and sustainable. Capacity is thus seen as the ability to do the right things in the right way and for the long term. The focus is not just on capacity to perform day to day tasks (the core functions) but also to look to the future, taking a strategic view of goals and overall objectives, and how these might change over time. Originally termed "capacity building", the prefer term for this process has now change to "capacity development", which reflects a change in approach from external actions and physical activities to internal process of growing and evolving, which is more in keeping with contemporary trends and approaches. The framework for capacity development, as has been confirmed by ICID (International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage), suggests capacity development needs to be addressed at four domains as shown in Figure 1 that consist of enabling environment, Organizations, Individuals, and cross cutting theme of Knowledge management [2].
Figure 1 Domain of capacity development
River basins sustain ecosystems, which are the main source of water for living and socio-economic development. On the other hand, integrated management refers to various essential management aspects to achieve a sustainable development of river basins. It includes the management of water demand and supply, upstream-downstream linkages, water and land resources development, as well as preserving and restoring the freshwater ecosystem. In this context the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), as an alternative and more effective approach to the common fragmented practices, is a concept that is receiving increasing attention. Managing changes from fragmented practices to an integrated approach is a paramount undertaking that a country should anticipated in managing its river basins. These changes in management concept required a capacity development at national level, down to the river basin level. Indonesia, like many other countries, has been gradually implementing capacity development since the early 1990s as part of its policy, strategies, and institutional reformed in water resources development and management. The whole Indonesia has been divided into 90 river basins, and currently they are in the various stages of the capacity development. Hence, it is providing opportunity for the less developed one for learning from the other river basins that more developed. This paper is an attempt to explore the capacity development progress of integrated management for river basins in Indonesia, and at the same time enabling to draw a pathway that need to be taken in managing river basins in Central Kalimantan.
Keywords: river basin, integrated management, capacity development
Integrated River Basin Management
A River Basin, Watershed, or Catchment is the geographic area from which water drains to a particular stream, river or body of water. The hilltops and ridges define the boundaries of a river basin. The river basin includes the ponds, wetlands and streams that store surface waters and is shaped by the fields, hills, valleys and towns which characterize its landscape.
It is also a community of people, plants and animals which rely on rainfall and the storage capability of that river basin to supply their water needs. A change in the river basins affects all living condition. As such, River Basin sustains ecosystems, which are the main source of water for living and socio-economic development. On the other hand, integrated management in the river basins refers to various essential management aspects to achieve a sustainable development of river basins. It includes the management of water demand and supply, upstream-downstream linkages, water and land resources development, as well as preserving and restoring the freshwater ecosystem. Hence, and also referring to the definition of Integrated Water Resources Management by Global Water Partnership, the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) can be defined as “The process of coordinating conservation, management and development of water, land and related resources within the river basins in order to maximize the resultant economic and social benefits in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems” [1]. Integrated river basin management is the implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) in a country, by applying river basins as a regional unit for the purpose of water resources planning and management.
The four guiding principles as stated in the 1992 Dublin Statement and Conference Report for a holistic, comprehensive, across sectors approach to water resources problems worldwide were as follows [1]:
• Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resources, essential to sustain life, development, and the environment;
• Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners, and policy makers at all levels;
• Women play a central part in the provision, management, and safe guarding of water; and
• Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognized as an economic good.
Capacity Development Initiatives for Water Resources Sector Reformed
Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), as an alternative and more effective approach to the common fragmented practices, is a concept that is receiving increasing attention. Managing changes from fragmented practices to an integrated approach is a paramount undertaking that a country should anticipated in managing its river basins. These changes in management concept required a capacity development at national level, for an Integrated Water Resources Management, and down to the river basin level for an Integrated River Basin Management. Indonesia, like many other countries, has been gradually implementing capacity development since the early 1990s as part of its policy, strategies, and institutional reformed in water resources development and management.
There are a range of definitions, both of capacity and capacity development. One of the simplest and most effective definitions of capacity comes from UNDP that capacity is the ability of individuals and organizations to perform functions effectively, efficiently and sustainable. Capacity is thus seen as the ability to do the right things in the right way and for the long term. The focus is not just on capacity to perform day to day tasks (the core functions) but also to look to the future, taking a strategic view of goals and overall objectives, and how these might change over time. Originally termed "capacity building", the prefer term for this process has now change to "capacity development", which reflects a change in approach from external actions and physical activities to internal process of growing and evolving, which is more in keeping with contemporary trends and approaches. The framework for capacity development, as has been confirmed by ICID (International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage), suggests capacity development needs to be addressed at four domains as shown in Figure 1 that consist of enabling environment, Organizations, Individuals, and cross cutting theme of Knowledge management [2].
Figure 1 Domain of capacity development
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