SINTANG - The Sintang Regency Government and WWF-Indonesia signed a cooperation agreement related to the Regency Strategic Area Spatial Plan for the purpose of protecting the Environment and Forestry (RTR KSK LHK), Monday (22/8/2016).

This cooperation is carried out as a general guideline in implementing and providing the preparation of the RTR KSK document. The preparation of this document will be the basic concept in the management of the Muller Ecosystem Area (KEM) in Sintang Regency which has been projected as KSK LHK, in accordance with Regional Regulation No. 20/2015 concerning the Sintang RTRWK.

Delivered by the Regent of Sintang, Jarot Winarno, that KSK for environmental and forestry interests in the Sintang RTRWK is a prioritized area.

"The preparation of the KSK LHK RTR is carried out as an effort to elaborate the RTRWK into a more specific space utilization, in accordance with the main aspects of the background, namely aspects of environmental and forestry interests," he said.

KEM is an area located in the Heart of Borneo (Heart of Borneo/HoB), which generally functions as a protection and supports the economic and socio-cultural functions of the people living around it. In the HoB National Strategic Area (KSN) RTR, KEM is projected to become an area that functions as an ecological corridor that will ensure the movement of wildlife living in it. This area connects tropical rainforest ecosystems in three conservation areas located in three provinces (West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan), namely Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (TNBBBR), Betung Kerihun National Park (TNBK) and Sapat Hawung Nature Reserve. Overall, KEM has an area of 1.3 million hectares, of which 32.4% (421,505 hectares) is located in Sintang District. The function and role of KEM in Sintang Regency is very important for the sustainability of economic activities, socio-cultural life and environmental sustainability.

"The integrity of KEM is the main challenge in managing this area. The current condition of KEM, which is relatively still in the form of intact forest or intact forest with various types of uses in it, has a variety of environmental services and biodiversity, which overall functions ecologically both for the area itself and the communities in and around it, "said West Kalimantan Program Manager, WWF-Indonesia, Albertus Tjiu.

Protection Forest (HL) and Limited Production Forest (HPT) are two types of land use that have a large proportion in KEM, amounting to 62%. The dominance of forest land use makes the integrity of this area still relatively good.

Also conveyed by Muller Schwanner-Arabela (MSA) Landscape Leader, WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program, Ambang Wijaya, KEM in Sintang Regency must be built and managed by paying attention and including the principle of compliance (compliance) with existing government regulations, both at the national and regional levels.

"We consider that the basic concept of KEM management which is integrated with the detailed plan of the KSK LHK RTR in Sintang Regency must also be able to better accommodate in responding to global issues, including paying attention to the important value of forest areas by making the KEM area an important landscape where important biodiversity is protected, unique ecosystems, and protection of sources of fulfillment of the basic needs of local communities, including customary interests and local culture, "said Ambang.

For more information, please contact:
Ambang Wijaya (Muller Schwaner-Arabela (MSA) Landscape Leader, WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program)
PHONE: +62 811 52 09959 | Email: ambangw@wwf.id