Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED RIVER MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF KUIN RIVER, BANJARMASIN, SOUTH KALIMANTAN –INDONESIA

P. Angriani, Sumarmi, I.N. Ruja and S. Bachri

Abstract

Community-based river management is a form of integrated and sustainable river management. Participation of the local community is a strategic key to be empowered and synergized with other components in this management. The objective of this study was to identify the participation of the Kampong Kuin’s community in the management of the Kuin River. The data were gained from semi-structured interviews, surveys and documentation. The results showed that to optimize the community participation in river management, an important figure was appointed as the river guard (Pemangku Sungai). Community empowerment through Pemangku Sungai is a process of facilitating and encouraging people to position themselves proportionally and become the main actors in utilizing their strategic environment optimally and fully involved in river management. There were two river guards appointed to motivate the community involvement in managing of Kuin River. Another effort was by holding Maharagu Sungai event. This event was intended to restore the function of the river, to get the community involved and to trigger the revitalization innovation based on the characteristics and condition of the river environment. In addition to involving local communities, the management of the Kuin River also involves a community organization concerned with river conservation called Melingai. The Melingai community who has a role in educating the community related to river preservation is expected to increase community participation in river management.