(Below is the result summary of my study while I was in World Forest Institute's fellowship program. This was also a paper material that was already accepted for IS-River conference in France-2015 which unfortunately I was not able to attend. I just want to share it again here on my personal blog.) 

----

Public Engagement in River Management, Lessons Learned From The Willamette River in USA to Indonesia’s River

Sudiyah Istichomah

Indonesia,  nonette262@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

There is an obvious need for the public to be involved in the management of natural resources, including forests, rivers, and resources. There are major challenges in Indonesia around river management such as floods, pollution, land conversion, and low community participation. The Minister of Environment stated that in 2014 75% of the large rivers in Indonesia were contaminated. This study aimed to explore how rivers are managed in the US, using the Willamette River in Portland as a case study. The focus was especially on public involvement  and how that can be applied to Indonesia. Many things can be learned from the Willamette River are 1) Government agencies are actively involved in community programs, the public are also actively involved, and there are nonprofit organizations that oversee government management, 2) Things like dam removal, installation of LWD for fish habitat, and re-meandering rivers are all management tools that would benefit Indonesia, 3) The use of an iconic species such as salmon as the impetus to restore the river is an excellent idea. Indonesia can look for an iconic  species  of their own , 4) Using the river as part of urban ecotourism. The Willamette River is a great Portland attraction for things like jogging, sailing, swimming, etc.

KEYWORDS

Public engagement, involvement, river, USA, Indonesia

1           Introduction

      Indonesian River and Challenges

There is an obvious need for the public to be involved in the management of natural resources, including forests, rivers, and resources. Today, water and river management  is an important issue around the world. There are major challenges in Indonesia around river management such as floods, pollution, land conversion, and low community participation. The Minister of Environment stated that in 2014 75% of the large rivers in Indonesia were contaminated.

This study aimed to explore how rivers are managed in the US, using the Willamette River in Portland as a case study. The focus was especially on public involvement  and how that can be applied to Indonesia.

Why this study is important:

1. Water is necessary for all life on earth. Rivers reflect the level care that is put into managing water resource and they need to be cared for.
2. Learning how developed countries use public involvement in river management  in important so that developing countries can learn from these models.
3. The Willamette River is an important river in Oregon. It flows through the city of Portland and has a complex management, influenced by the urban environment with many different governmental and interested parties engaged in its management.

For 6 six months fellowship program in World Forest Institute, June – November 2014, writer did a study to learn about river management within the USA, with case study of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon State. The study’s objectives are to know about the general condition of the river management and to find lessons learned that can be applied in Indonesia.

Four main questions for this study are,

1. What is the current state of management of the Willamette River in Portland?
2. Who are the actors that play a role in the management of the river and what are the roles?
3. Is there a forum that brings together those parties?
4. How does it compare with the situation in Indonesia?

The research was conducted in two ways: interviews and literature studies. Interviews were conducted with government agencies, experts, non-profit organizations and the general public in random. Literature was reviewed from websites, journals, news and other sources. A number of  fieldtrips with the World Forest Institute also allowed me to gain knowledge about the management of natural resources, especially rivers of PNW in general.

2. RESULT

2.1 Willamette River – Portland, A river with a long history

The Willamette River Basin is the largest watershed in the state, covering more than 11,500 square miles. Portland occupies only a small fraction of the river’s drainage basin, about one-half of one percent, but is the most urbanized area. Native salmon, steelhead and other fish and wildlife species live within Portland’s urban boundary, and also  migrate through Portland to other parts of the Willamette River Basin, Columbia River Basin and beyond.

The Willamette River faces a lot of problems, including pollution and water quality. In 2000, the federal government established that the river has become one of the Super Fund site cleanup projects because of it’s heavy pollution. This program involves many stakeholders: governments, private companies, numbers of environmental organizations, and also the general public who actively care for the implementation of the programs.

Restoration carried out in upstream rivers and creeks also provide a major influence on the Willamette River in Portland. Restoration of the Willamette River, and generally in the PNW, is closely related to salmon, which has been included in the category of endangered species. Salmon migrations connect the downstream and upstream of river systems and salmon habitat restoration has proven beneficial for the restoration of the river as a whole. Various restoration programs are conducted with the involvement of the general public, such as  volunteer-based tree planting, cleaning streams of garbage, and invasive species removal.

2.2 Actors in Willamette River Management

Who are the actors in river management?

In general, there are four groups that play an active role in management: Government, Private companies/ land owners, nonprofit organizations, and the general public.

Government plays the largest role in river management. They set the policy and develop the manage plans. They engage the public throughout the entire process using various means. Some of these are: transparency – letting the media and public know of their plans, public comment periods for each program so they know what the public wants, providing public field tours, and creating advisory groups.

Nonprofit organizations such as Willamette Riverkeepers or watershed councils can play a complimentary role to government organizations. Through their programs and campaigns, they raise awareness about the river and encourage public to be more. They also can monitor the work of government.

Private companies and land owners typically use a lot of water resources for their business and do have a voice in management of the water. They can support the government and nonprofit organizations that works for river by give fund or have partnership. Landowners usually do the stream restoration and conservation in their property.

The general public is the most important part of this system. The public can actively participate in river management in many ways: read the news and updates about government programs, give active responses during public comment periods, and volunteer in events related to the river.

There are of course many divergent opinions about and interests in the Willamette River. Public engagement is one way to help the various groups work together and understand each other interests in the water. However, developing  discussion forums and consensus on ideas and is difficult and requires a lot of work to have all the parties come together.

Are there forums that bring together interested parties?

Advisory councils and watershed councils provide a forum for people to meet and discuss their concerns about the river.

Watershed councils are locally organized, voluntary, non-regulatory groups established to improve the conditions of watersheds in their local area. They bring together local stakeholders from private, local, state, and federal interests in a partnership, to help plan restoration. In Oregon, there are at least 74 watershed councils that build a big network of people dedicated to supporting the work of river protection and restoration throughout the state.

2.3 Lessons Learned: From Portland to Indonesia

River management in Indonesia is led by the government. There are at least 14 ministries related to water management with the Ministry of Public Work being the main ministry in charge of infrastructure and management of the river. There are also several NGOs that are actively involved in water issues. But there is  a lack of participation by the general public.

In Indonesia, there is also a Water Resources Council, a forum of river management parties at the national or provincial level. They don’t function well however  because coordination is lacking and not everyone’s interests can be accommodated. The most interesting thing is the trend of community volunteer organizations like River Defenders which recently formed all around Indonesia as an expression of concern from a small number of the public for the poor condition of the river.

Many things can be learned from the Willamette River:

•  Government agencies are actively involved in community programs, the public are also actively involved, and there are nonprofit organizations that oversee government management.
• Things like dam removal, installation of LWD for fish habitat, and re-meandering rivers are all management tools that would benefit Indonesia.
• The use of an iconic species such as salmon as the impetus to restore the river is an excellent idea. Indonesia can look for an iconic  species  of their own.
• Using the river as part of urban ecotourism. The Willamette River is a great Portland attraction for things like jogging, sailing, swimming, etc.. Urban rivers in Indonesia have not been widely used for leisure purposes.

---------

img source: here 

Serayu River - Central Java (2011)

"If you have what it takes to make a big change in the environmental condition in this country, what would you want to do?", one of my friend asked me that question. And now, I am still thinking about that. A simple question doesn't always need a simple answer. It can be so much complicated. But, the simpler is the easier to understand, even for the answerer. So, I think that I would just to answer it in simple way.  

It was all started with my 'accidental' interest in river and water management issue that leads me to know a little faction of this big issue. What I know all this time is that there's something wrong with the water management in this country. And, just like everybody else, the easiest way to do is blaming the government. I said, "They should or shouldn't do this and that, bla bla bla...!". I always ask for action from others with justification that that's all their job and I do not have enough power to do it myself. Then, the question hit me for a second!  

If I have all the resources I need (fund, time, team) in order to change the current poor condition of the river in this country, what would I do? What I want to do? Hahaha.. It really hits me. I didn't have confidence answering it in a blink of eye.  Unexpectedly, I need more time to think. Whoaa...! I got something on my mind that really interest me. Maybe my confusion is just the same thing with what the government has. They have resources, they have power, but maybe they don't have any confidence too, just like me. Or, is it just me who lack of imagination? Who knows?

Well, I will try to answer it here.

In this case, I will create a team whose members are credible and expert in the field.  “The right man in the right place”, they said. Every single person on earth has what they can or can’t do by themselves. To do something that we able to do is one of the ways to gain success in our work. Do not make mistake like put someone in the wrong place. Do not make me a singer while I am a tone-deaf person. Just like, do not make an economist to do some conservation jobs. It’s not about if they can’t do the work or vice-versa. Like in an Indian movie ‘3 Idiots’ I watched several years ago, “Can you imagine if Mariah Carey became an Engineer?!” It doesn’t mean that she can’t but her best is to be a singer.

My position? Of course, I would like to choose to be the leader. Why? My experience when I was chosen as a class representative in SD (elementary school) still lingers in my mind and I think it is not a bad idea to do it again. Post power syndrome! (Lol)

Then, I will just ask them the same question, “What would you like to do if you have what it takes to…”.  The right person in the right place and time will know the answer. We will work together as a perfect team! (Somehow, it feels like Multi Level Marketing. J )

As simple as that!

Further question? Let’s wait for the expert’s answer. Maybe ‘The Fish Goddess’ Riska Darmawanti has an answer regarding the river ecology, or the activist of Ciliwung Sudirman Asun has answer about people’ voluntarism, etc. The names I mentioned here just several names that came to my mind when I was writing this. So, it doesn’t mean anything actually.

How would I know the best person? How can I manage all of them? How to ensure everything is okay? How this and that? (OMG! Why this ‘How’ question is so complicated? How many ‘Hows’ are there? Hahaha…

I am laughing to myself again. Maybe I am not qualified to be a good leader like I said. It’s a half joke! I would prefer to be one of the team members who work for the river. What can I do? Social Research maybe….

You?

img source: here 

Hutan TN Gede Pangrango dilihat dari Desa Cimande bersebelahan dengan Desa Pancawati, Caringin, Bogor. 

"Ya, di situ di DAS.", kata Pak Jamil (bukan nama asli) - seorang warga desa sambil menunjuk jurang tempat Sungai Cimande mengalir. Dalam hatiku aku was-was. Kenapa? Terdengar lagi satu istilah yang sempat membuatku berkerut : DAS atau Daerah Aliran Sungai. Jangan-jangan,.... Mari disimak apa yang terpikir olehku saat itu. 

Hari ini, aku mengunjungi Desa Pancawati, sebuah desa di Kaki Gunung Pangrango yang diapit oleh rimba yang kini telah berstatus Taman Nasional Gede Pangrango dan daerah-daerah industri terutama Pabrik Danone Aqua yang boleh dikatakan sebagai perusahaan air minum dalam kemasan terbesar di Indonesia. Di desa yang katanya merupakan daerah yang dekat atau malah memang daerah 'recharging area' - kawasan untuk serapan air tanah, berbagai kegiatan yang melibatkan perusahaan air itu pun menjadi bagian dari kehidupan sehari-hari masyarakatnya. Danone telah menggelontorkan dana CSRnya dan mungkin dana lainnya juga di sini. Melalui LSM lokal setempat, perusahaan itu telah membantu masyarakat setempat baik dalam bidang ekonomi ataupun pembinaan tentang lingkungannya. Tak lupa pula, ada peran taman nasional yang juga ikut kecipratan 'rejeki' dari adanya perusahaan besar ini. Nah, apa hubungannya dengan Pak Jamal dan DAS? Aku bukannya akan membahas tentang program ataupun untung rugi adanya interaksi ini. Aku hanya ingin menggaris-bawahi penggunaan istilah populer, terkesan scientific, cerdas, dan sering sekali disalah-pahami, yaitu DAS. 

Interaksi yang intensif antara masyarakat dengan golongan akademisi, peneliti, perwakilan perusahaan dan aktivis lingkungan yang kadang menggunakan kata-kata dan istilah tertentu, pasti akan menulari pula penduduk dampingan. Karena ini terkait air, maka istilah DAS ikut-ikut terbawa. Bagus di satu sisi. Tapi, jika terjadi kesalah-pahaman tentu menjadi kurang bagus. Nah, ini pula yang aku kuatirkan terjadi dengan Pak Jamal. Ketika dia menyebut kata DAS sambil menunjuk sungai dengan yakinnya, aku mulai ber-dejavu dengan pengalamanku dulu saat aku menemui permasalahan yang serupa. Orang seringkali aku temui menyalah-artikan definisi DAS dengan wilayah kanan-kiri sungai yang dibatasi garis sempadan sungai. Padahal, dua hal itu jelas tidak sama. (Ups, istilah bantaran dan sempada saja ternyata artinya beda. :O) 

"Daerah aliran sungai adalah suatu wilayah daratan yang merupakan satu kesatuan dengan sungai dan anak-anak sungainya, yang berfungsi menampung, menyimpan, dan mengalirkan air yang berasal dari curah hujan ke danau atau ke laut secara alami, yang batas di darat merupakan pemisah topografis dan batas di laut sampai dengan daerah perairan yang masih terpengaruh aktivitas daratan." (UU no. 7 tahun 2004 tentang Sumberdaya Air). 

Sedangkan garis sempadan sungai adalah garis maya/khayal di kanan dan kiri palung sungai yang ditetapkan untuk perlindungan sungai (PP 38/2011 tentang Sungai). Nah, daerah antara garis sempadan dan palung sungai itu yang mungkin seringkali disalah-pahami sebagai DAS. Silakan disanggah jika asumsiku kurang tepat.

Apa yang membuat dua hal ini sering disama-artikan ya? Ada yang tahu? Monggo kalau mau urun suara bisa dikomen. 

Dengan perkataan Pak Jamil di atas tadi, aku berasumsi bahwa dia salah paham. (Aku akan coba cek lagi kapan-kapan. :) ) Pertanyaan lanjutannya adalah, darimana dia bisa salah paham? Ada dua kemungkinan, yaitu: dia memang salah paham sendiri atau jangan-janan memang pendamping masyarakat yang mengenalkan definisi DAS itu pada Pak Jamil sudah salah paham duluan. Tidak mustahil terjadi kemungkinan yang kedua. 

Nah, lalu yang menjadi perhatianku adalah penggunaan istilah dan bahasa-bahasa tertentu ketika berbicara dengan masyarakat umum. Kenapa ada jurusan khusus komunikasi dengan masyarakat di kampus-kampus terkenal, misalnya saja IPB yang punya KPM (Komunikasi Pengembangan Masyarakat)? Pasti karena berkomunikasi dengan masyarakat itu bukan perkara mudah. Karena itu diperlukan keterampilan khusus yang mumpuni agar apa yang kita sampaikan benar-benar pas dipahami oleh mereka, tidak kurang dan tidak lebih.Jangan sampai salah paham apalagi salah langkah. :)

Aku dulu sempat jengkel terhadap seorang kawan yang punya hobi ngomong dengan 'Bahasa Dewa' - suatu istilah untuk bahasa yang susah dipahami konteks maupun maknanya tapi terdengar 'wah' karenan banyaknya penggunaan kata-kata asing, serapan, dan akademis. Ampun banget orang-orang kayak gini! Pernah aku katakan langsung bahwa bisa saja bagi dia indikator seseorang itu cerdas adalah dari semakin tidak dipahaminya apa yang dibicarakannya. "Semakin orang gak paham, maka lo semakin keren dan cerdas!", kataku saat itu. Tapi, masa ya gitu sih? 

Aih, aku tetiba jadi teringat video rekamana Vicky Prasetyo saat pidato pemilihan Kades dengan bahasa Inggris ngaco-nya, yang diiringi para tetua desa yang manggut-manggut entah kagum, entah ngerti, atau entahlah. Jangan sampai kita seperti itu. 

Lhah kok, nyambungnya sama salah konsepsi DAS apa? Coba kamu sambungkan sendiri, lagipula semua ini hanya asumsiku.

Aku di TKP :)