Java, home to nearly 60% of Indonesia’s population, is under increasing pressure from hydrometeorological disasters and shrinking living spaces. West Java and Central Java are even the provinces with the most disasters during 2023. WALHI calls Java Island in a situation towards collapse.
In a press release from the Wahana Lingkungan Hidup (WALHI) for the Java region on February 27, 2024, there were 5,365 disasters that hit the whole of Indonesia during 2023, with forest and land fires, extreme weather, floods, landslides, droughts, to abrasion and tidal waves.
Behind these numbers are thousands of sad stories. More than 8 million people were forced to leave their homes, leaving bitter memories. More than 250 people died, and 5.000 others were injured, not only physically, but also in their hearts and minds. However, these disasters are not only the result of natural changes, but also human intervention that continues to damage the earth.
Suci Fitriah Tanjung, Regional Executive Director of Walhi Jakarta, revealed that metropolitan areas are one of the most affected due to development that does not consider spatial conditions. As a result, there is land subsidence of up to 12 cm per year, clean water crisis, air pollution, marine pollution, and coastal sinking, flooding, and small islands.
“This problem is rooted in spatial injustice due to the inequality of agrarian control in Jakarta, more than half of which has been controlled by corporations, thus hampering the fulfillment of 30% Green Open Space (RTH) as mandated by the Spatial Planning Law,” said Suci.
In addition, the latest Detailed Spatial Plan (RDTR) also still facilitates reclamation, even the recent plan in response to climate change will build a giant sea wall as a solution. In its construction, this sea wall destroys mangroves, reclaims beaches, and displaces and deprives the lives of thousands of fishermen who depend on the Jakarta sea. Instead of being a climate adaptation project, the sea wall is actually a climate maladaptation because it was built by destroying ecosystems and people’s lives.
Regional Executive Director of Walhi East Java, Wahyu Eka Setyawan, said that floods that occurred throughout 2023 yesterday, almost occurred in all regions of East Java, then forest and land fires also almost occurred in all regions, coupled with drought. The impact of this is a threat to food, then clean water and the decline in environmental quality which has an impact on the disruption of people’s lives.
“This problem is caused by spatial problems, including spatial policies in East Java Province and Regency/City, which still facilitate the conversion of areas, including forests, springs and food areas,” Wahyu said.
For example, Wahyu added, Batu City, Malang and Surabaya are now plagued by floods, landslides and diminishing green areas. He sees that spatial plans still facilitate the expansion of economic areas, one of which is mining, including in the South and North Coast as happened in Tumpang Pitu, Banyuwangi to Trenggalek which is now entrenched in gold mining, to the expansion of housing in urban areas as happened in Surabaya, Malang and Batu.
Even spatial planning that is only oriented towards economic growth has had an impact on conditions in Central Java. Director of Walhi Central Java, Fahmi Bastian, noted that the revision of spatial planning has expanded mining areas, protected areas have lost their status, all of which have made the environment more fragile. In addition, the Central Java region is divided into 9 new economic zones, which further adds to the problems in environmental carrying capacity.
The North Coast of Central Java is also experiencing environmental degradation due to development. In the last two years, the North Coast of Central Java has experienced continuous ecological disasters, such as tidal floods, land subsidence and abrasion, for example in Semarang, Demak and Pekalongan.
However, in the midst of this dark story, Walhi Region Java demands the government to act seriously and take firm steps. Reviewing policies and regulations that conflict with efforts to save and restore Java Island is urgent.
Walhi not only demands, but also invites the entire community to join forces together to protect this priceless natural heritage. With hope in their hearts, they stepped up, ready to save Java Island from the impending destruction. “We also call on all movements and people to continue to fight and speak out about saving Java Island,” Fahmi said. (*)