Review and Input for East Kalimantan Province RZWP3K Improvement Balikpapan Bay (version 11 March 2020)
East Kalimantan is one of the provinces with rich forest resources and diversity of flora and fauna including marine biodiversity. Balikpapan Bay is one of the important seascapes in East Kalimantan. From ecological standpoint, the bay has high biodiversity as it is where rivers from three districts/cities (i.e. North Penajam Paser District, Kutai Kartanegara District, and Balikpapan City) empty to. These areas are still rich with mangrove ecosystem. Balikpapan Bay is a permanent habitat to several protected wildlife species (as per Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018) such as Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) and dugong (Dugong dugon). Other important species such as green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and crocodile (Crocodilus sp.) make the bay their feeding ground. Further, Balikpapan Bay has been made part of new State Capital Region (IKN) territory, where environment remains the major issue in state development (see Strategic Environmental Assessment/SEA)).
We have reviewed East Kalimantan’s Coastal zone and Small Island Zonation Plan (RZWP3K) version 11 March 2020 and highlighted at least the following four major concerns.
- Expansion of Coastal Marine and Small Island Conservation Area (KKP3K).
- Protection for mangrove, coral reef and seagrass ecosystems.
- Protection for coastal community rights to settlement and fishing.
- Protection for endemic and protected species through protection area designation.
In addition, we have also made article-by-article recommendation for specific location (i.e. Balikpapan Bay) because the last version of Draft Provincial Regulation that we received contains environmental downsides. See the following recommendation.
Coastal Marine and Small Island Conservation Area (KKP3K) includes point a to v.
Recommendation:
All mangrove areas in Balikpapan Bay (including 3 districts/city) should be covered by the KKP3K.
rationale:
- As per Presidential Regulation No. 73/2012 on National Strategy for Mangrove Ecosystem Management (SNPEM), the local government should increase the protection level.
- Almost all mangrove areas in Balikpapan Bay are habitats to rare, threatened, endemic and protected species (as per Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation on Protected Flora and Fauna Species Year 2018) such as Proboscis monkey, etc.
- Balikpapan Bay mangroves have ecotourism attraction and geological formation that can be developed for scientific purpose.
- Mangrove is an ecosystem area essential to coastal and marine life. It protects against high tides, abrasion, sedimentation, flood and saltwater intrusion and is able to absorb and store carbon in an amount larger than terrestrial forest ecosystem.
- Mangrove protection is mandated by Law 41 of 1999 on Forestry, Law 26 of 2007 on Spatial Planning, Law 27 of 2007 in conjunction with Law 1 of 2014 on Management of Coastal Zone and Small Island Management, and Law 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management.
Areas designated as core zone within the KKP3K include point a to i.
Recommendation:
The following islands are recommended to be covered by designation of KKP3K core zone.
- Benawa Besar Island.
- Benawa Kecil Island.
- Kalawasan Island.
- Kendompit Island.
- Kwangan Island.
- Babi Island.
- Tukong Island.
rationale:
This is as mandated by Law 27 of 2007 in conjunction with Law 1 of 2014 on Management of Coastal Zone and Small Islands (PWP3K). Aquaculture activities should be restricted in small islands.
KKP3K provided under paragraph 3, that have been designated as restricted use zone in KKP3K includes point a to v.
Recommendation:
- Balang Island.
- Aquatic area within Balikpapan Bay, i.e. from Balang Island to upstream part. This area should be covered in designation of restricted use zone in KKP3K.
rationale:
- Use activities are currently ongoing in Balang Island, so that they need to be aligned with the applicable law, i.e. Law 1 of 2014 on PWP3K.
- Water in Balikpapan Bay contains many important nutrients accumulated from river downstream areas, so that the bay becomes a feeding ground to protected aquatic species such as Irrawaddy dolphin.
- Integrated management of downstream-upstream rivers is part of mandate of Presidential Regulation No. 73/2012 on SNPEM.
The full details can be downloaded via the link below:
