Natural sustainability affects the quality of life of people living in that area. For the people of Tumbak Rungan in Palangka Raya, Kalimantan, culturally and politically, the Takapan Lake has a significant position. They have long made their livings as fishermen, benefitting from the economic potential of the lake. But since the 1980s, the environment quality of the lake has decreased, which directly influenced their lives.
“It has become very difficult for the local people to meet their daily needs as the amount of fish getting caught has drastically reduced. In the past people could meet their needs from the economic potential from the lake, nowadays this no longer suffices,” said Mayor of Palangka Raya, M. Riban Satia, when sitting for open doctoral examination at Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Tens of years ago, the Takapan Lake had very good environment quality. It had ideal prerequisites for fresh water fish to grow, where the amount of fish that was caught could reach 8 kg each, selling at Rp50,000/kg. But due to the decrease quality of the environment, the water has gone murkier, polluted with low level of nutrients, while the fish types and weight decreased. According to Riban, the environment quality and fulfillment of people’s earnings are very related to the institutional quality of Takapan Lake management.
As a Common Pool Resources (CPR), the institutional quality of Takapan Lake management in terms of its natural resources is significant. Prior to 1980, the institutional management was very ideal, so the environment there was well protected. While after 1980, the institutional management quality has gone worse, leading to the degradation of the lake environment. To overcome these problems, the local government of Palangka Raya may devise policy alternatives that lead to the development of tourism destination of the Takapan Lake based on ecological excellence and local wisdom.
“The government can give incentives for environment maintenance of the area of the lake, as well as freeing termed taxes for investments that are in line with the grand plan of the Takapan Lake exploration, allowing fish seed restocking, developing ecology-based economy of society, and establishing a forum for regional working units,” he said.