With more than 500 natural lakes covering huge areas of the archipelago, it is hard to believe that Indonesia has a serious shortage of clean water. But it does.
Alarmingly, not a single one of the nation’s so-called “island tropical lakes”, which account for 5,000 square kilometers of the total landmass, provides healthy drinking water.
The environment minister, Rachmat Witoelar, concedes that most of the country’s lakes are in poor condition as a result of unsustainable forest conversions into agricultural and other ecologically irresponsible developments.

Conservationists are therefore hoping that this week’s National Conference on Lakes, being held in Bali from Aug. 13–15, will result in the introduction of some positive initiatives to clean up and protect Indonesia’s valuable water resources. Nine ministers will be joined by governors, NGOs and other experts to discuss how to avert what could become a national crisis if ignored.
“It is also hoped that the conference will increase understanding on the importance of lakes as a life support system, which has to be protected, conserved and recovered to support sustainable management and utilization of lakes,” says Witoelar.

Rapid population growth and unsustainable development activities have seriously decreased the environmental quality of lake ecosystems in Indonesia.

Experts say that if these problems are not immediately addressed, the continued degradation of this country’s lakes will surely spell disaster to local communities, causing more flooding, an increased scarcity of fresh drinking water, and a decrease in food production. Never has the situation been more critical with at least 80 percent of Indonesia’s population having no access to piped water. A large proportion of Indonesians are dependent on lakes for all of their
water needs.

Infrastructural shortcomings mean there is limited access to clean water for millions of people who have to use lakes and rivers for drinking water, bathing, washing, agriculture and even recreation.
With an increase in water-borne disease, it is imperative that the government urgently addresses the health of the nation’s lakes.

It is hoped the Indonesian National Conference on Lakes will produce a range of new ideas and integrated concepts that respect the ecosystem balance and environmental-carrying capacity to meet the requirements of current and future generations.

Ironically, Indonesia is blessed with some of the world’s most magnificent lakes. It is home to three of deepest lakes in the world: Lakes Matano and Poso in Sulawesi and Lake Toba in Sumatra, which is also the largest volcanic lake on earth.

Surrounded by soaring mountains — cradling the island of Samosir in its middle — Danau Toba, as it is also known, is a geological phenomenon. It is the site of a super-volcanic eruption that occurred more than 70,000 years ago, which is believed to have been the largest anywhere in the past 25 million years.

Anthropologists think that this catastrophic event, and the volcanic winter that followed, almost wiped out most of the world’s human beings, cutting the population down to as few as 3,000.

Lake Toba is approximately 90 kilometers long and is situated approximately 900 meters above
sea level. Of the 202 brooks and rivers that empty into the lake, only 70 run year-round, with recent studies suggesting that the inflow of water into the lake is perilously decreasing.

Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right. The country’s water problems have been getting worse for many years. Forecasts of gloom and doom from conservationists have fallen on deaf ears. Scientists say that time is running out and that urgent action is needed now.

The upcoming Indonesian National Conference on Lakes will involve government institutions at national and local levels, academics, NGOs and a range of other stakeholders.

The organizers hope to establish a “lake resolution” as a reference for government at national and local levels on sustainable management.

This high-level meeting in Bali must deliver tangible outcomes.

We cannot afford another impressive talking shop. Many of Indonesia’s and the world’s leading
experts on lakes will be attending the conference.

With so many ministers on hand, it is right for the people of Indonesia to expect to see some effective restorative measures introduced by the government that will first clean up and then guarantee the long-term protection of the country’s precious lakes.

Jonathan Wootliff is an independent sustainable development consultant specializing in the building of productive relationships between companies and NGOs.
He can be contacted at jonathan@wootliff.com

Source : The Jakara Post