Indonesia Lakes

Indonesia has inundated land ecosystem, such as lakes. Some of these lakes were formed naturally (natural lake), and the others were formed artificially (artificial lake). Artificial lakes are recognized with the name of reservoir. Morphometri or form and structure of the natural and artificial lake are differentiated with their physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the water.Threfore, management strategy of these natural and artificial lake cannot be the same. Guideline of Lakes Ecosystem is a guiding concept for natural lakes (then, it is called lakes) ecosystem management.

Indonesia has inundated land ecosystem, such as lakes. Some of these lakes were formed naturally (natural lake), and the others were formed artificially (artificial lake). Artificial lakes are recognized with the name of reservoir. Morphometri or form and structure of the natural and artificial lake are differentiated with their physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the water.

Threfore, management strategy of these natural and artificial lake cannot be the same. Guideline of Lakes Ecosystem is a guiding concept for natural lakes (then, it is called lakes) ecosystem management. Lakes are rich in biodiversity and social-economic functions. Lakes are potential to support human livelihood. Their ecological functions are as water conserver, habitat for various kind of flora and fauna, including endemic, indigenous and protective species.The water has benefit for water consumption and supply for any sectors surrounding the lakes, such as housing, agriculture, industries, electricity, transportation, fisheries, and tourism, including water tourism. Besides its economic value, lake has also aesthethic, religy and traditional value.

Number dan area of lakes in Indonesia, divided per Island

Island		Number of Lakes (Area > 10 Ha)	Total Area  (Ha)
Sumatera		170	190.043
Kalimantan		139	84.231
Jawa and Bali		31	6.270
East  and West Nusa Tenggara		14	6.041
Sulawesi		30	141.871
Maluku		10	3.438
Papua		127	59.830
Total		521	491.724

Source: Nontji, 1996

Indonesia has signed ’ Millennium Declaration’ on year 2000 in New York together with 147 leaders in the world. In this declaration, Indonesia agreed to reduce the number of poverty into less than 50%. This  poverty alleviation would be solved by better environmental management and justice in natural resources allocation. One target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to reduce the population proportion which does not have access to clean water less than 50% in year 2015. Lake as biggest water reservoir and easy to access is an important component that has to be counted to achieve the MDG’s goals. Lake ecosystem has an important role to save the quality and quantity of the freshwater.

World Summit on Sustainable Development, (WSSD) concluded that key area to be prioritized in the sustainable development is ‘WEHAB' (Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture and Biodiversity). These themes have big impacts in the human livelihood, the interaction with nature, and in the sustainable livelihood in the future. Most of the population in the world has no access to the clean water and more than 3 million people died every year because of water borne illness. If there is no real action to save this freshwater resource, in year 2025 it is estimated that 2/3 population in various countries in the world will have very limited clean water. It needs better management to access freshwater, especially ineffiency water supply for agriculture, and better management in catchment area.

Capacity of this ecosystem in the world, to support the biodiversity has been decreased, which is signed in the decreased of population of freshwater species. Around 20% of freshwater fish species has been endangered. The low awarenensss to save the existing freshwater, in quality and quantity, would impact on the decreasing of aquatic biodiversity and human health. Conservation and effective management for this ecosystem is important to save the existing clean freshwater for human livelihood. The health water resources are usefull for well function of the ecosystem and to protect biodiversity. .  

Lake Protection has been discussed in The World Lakes Conference. The 9th  World Lakes Conference on year 2001 in Shiga, Japan had proposed to develop World Lake Vision which formally been launched at The 3rd  World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan on 2003. World Lake Vision developed to invite people in the world that lake is not only water resources, tourism spot  and food resources that easily been found, but also a water system that has complex biota and natural beauty, and has function as historical, social and economic livelihood place. World Lake Vision is also tend to the need of integrated approach or network of all stakeholders, so the problems can be solved comprehensively and sustainably due to better managemenet plan concept. Due to the importance of the lake ecosystem as a supporting human livelihiood, it needs real action to managed its used with the awareness of its various function and biodiversity, and also its role in the relation of human livelihood and nature.