Article written by: Kaoem Telapak
on May 19, 2023
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Fighting to Protect Balikpapan Bay Biodiversity

Balikpapan Bay has a rich biodiversity. Hamsuri, a member of Kaoem Telapak, and his network advocate for the bay to become a conservation area.

Hamsuri was born on Marabatuan Island, South Kalimantan. Since college, he has been interested in environmental issues. He is still actively contributing to several non-governmental organizations in East Kalimantan. His advocacy profession made him join the Environmental Advocates Network (JALH), which aims to uphold the law in environmental cases.

Apart from JALH, he is also active as a coach in the Coastal Working Group. Hamsuri said that the Pesisir Working Group aimed to protect Balikpapan Bay. Currently, two industrial areas flank Balikpapan Bay, plus the National Capital City (IKN) project, which makes the ecosystem in Balikpapan Bay even more difficult. “They cleared many mangrove trees, there is sedimentation in the river area, and the colour of the river water is getting murkier,” answered Hamsuri when asked what the impact of the existence of the two industrial areas and the IKN project was.

Seeing the situation threatening Balikpapan Bay’s biodiversity, Hamsuri and his network also made advocacy efforts at the government level, so the Government’s spatial planning policy counted for Balikpapan Bay.

Hamsuri, Kaoem Telapak Member

Balikpapan Bay is the water area that separates the cities of Balikpapan and Penajam. Areas of coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and rainforests are the ecosystems that dominate this bay area. In 2018, there was an incident of diesel fuel spilling in the bay area, which made people smell diesel fuel for days.

“The Pesisir Working Group is pushing the Government to protect parts of the Balikpapan Bay as a conservation area through the KKP3K scheme,” said Hamsuri.

KKP3K stands for Coastal and Small Islands Conservation Areas, a scheme the Government offers through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to make marine or coastal areas a conservation area.

At the local government level, through the Regional Regulation on Zoning Plan for Coastal Zone and Small Islands, Balikpapan Bay has been allocated as a conservation area. According to Hamsuri, this still needs to be ratified. “It is important to ratify the areas,” he said.

To get recognition for conservation, the first step for Hamsuri and his network to do is to push the issuance of a Governor’s Decree (SK). Because of that, they also opened the communication of senior activists who work in the circle of the Provincial Government of East Kalimantan. Then, reach out to political parties. To be included, collaborating with the Provincial Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service. “In less than a year, the Governor issued the Decree,” he said.

After obtaining the Governor’s Decree, Hamsuri and his network are still working to get the determination through the Decree of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. “Before the Ministry Issues the decree, they will do a verification process towards Balikpapan Bay,” he said.

The KKP3K scheme is still in process at the Ministry of Marine and Fishery Affairs. They could refuse the conservation status for Balikpapan Bay. If they leave the proposal, Hamsuri and his networks will try other schemes to protect the ecosystem of Balikpapan Bay.

Protecting Balikpapan Bay requires commitment from various parties. Hamsuri also appreciated the progressive regulations issued by the local Government. “However, in practice, they must continue to be reminded,” he said.