A Wisdom and Management of Watershed for Future

The population from year to year is increasing; this causes the need for food, raw
materials, and other basic needs increase. If this happens, it will continue to have an impact on
the quality of the environment, which decreases, so that the carrying capacity of the
environment will also decrease. This is in accordance with one of the principles of the
Environment stated in an optimal environment for the procurement of natural resources,
because natural resources are limited. When this happens in a Watershed, degradation occurs
and adversely affects the area under the watershed.
The watershed functions as a reservoir store and drain water that comes from rainfall
to the lake or sea naturally. The watershed are divide into three parts, including the upstream,
middle and downstream sections that have their respective functions. The upstream area has
important meaning because every activity in upstream will have an impact on the middle and
downstream, because upstream area is a conservation area that is managed to maintain the
watershed environment that is not degraded.
In 2013, the Research and Development Center for Watershed Management
Technology stated that Indonesia has 456 watersheds that have the potential for crises due to
land use change that makes the environment not function optimally. Based on the results of my
research, it shows that from year to year land are damage, especially in the upper reaches of
the river. The damage caused by changes in land use, population growth, and community
awareness of the environmental sustainability of the watershed. Symptoms of watershed
damage seen from the depreciation of forest area and land damage, especially in protected
forest areas around the watershed. The impact of watershed damage that occurred resulted in
river water to discharge conditions fluctuating between rainy season and dry season. In
addition, the decline in water reserves and the erosion and sedimentation rates also increased.
So that the impact felt, is the occurrence of floods in the rainy season and drought in the dry
season.
The problem in the watershed is that there is an unwise agricultural pattern upstream so
that the soil is erosion. Community participation is need regarding soil conservation to reduce
erosion hazards. The community in general in the upstream part carries out conservation of
vegetative methods. This is based on field surveys the method is profitable for farmers.
However, the community in the selection of cover crops is more considering the economic
benefits of plants without looking at the future impacts. Sengon is one of the conservation’s
plant that community planted . Sengon tree has the advantage over other trees, namely that its
growth is very fast so that it is feasible to be able to harvest in a relatively short age. In addition,
wood from the tree produces a tempting price. Therefore, many people plant Sengon trees,
especially in watersheds.
The upstream watershed have an average slope in the precipitous category, making it
prone to erosion. The community plants the majority of the conservation fields around the
upper watershed with Sengon trees. This is because the community is interest in the price of
wood if sold will benefit them without seeing the future impact on the environment. As a result,
the soil upstream if heavy rain erosion occurs, this is because the root of the SSengon is fibrous
so it is unable to hold the soil. In addition, if the tree is cut after 3 to 5 years the roots will rot
and contain soil nutrients that make the soil looser so the soil can easily move.
My opinion should be in the upstream watershed planted conservation plants that do
not damage the environment and benefit the community. For example planting durian, mangos
teen or avocado trees whose roots are able to hold the soil and use the fruit for sale. In addition,
if the community continues to plant the Sengon tree there must be other variations such as teak
or mahogany. So that the community benefits and the environment does not become damaged.