The West Lombok regency administration is drafting a local ordinance on environmental management in an effort to conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
The ordinance will also contribute to improved livelihoods for coastal residents and those living on the fringes of forests.
"At the last meeting, every commission in the West Lombok legislature agreed on the ordinance. It will be passed and implemented in the near future," West Lombok regency administration spokesman Basirun Anwar told The Jakarta Post.
He said the idea to draft the ordinance came about due to the regency's deteriorating clean water supply and extensive damage being caused to forest areas because of illegal logging.
Economic factors are increasingly driving people living on the edge of forests in West Lombok to resort to illegal logging and land clearance practices.
"West Lombok will certainly face droughts in the dry season and floods in the rainy season during the next 10 years if current practices continue. The administration is drafting the ordinance so people will no longer harm the environment and will be rewarded for conservation efforts they make," he said.
"The parties that will be effected are the government, the public and businesses using natural resources."
Basirun said the ordinance will specify ways businesses can contribute to environmental preservation.
The ordinance will also specify that 75 percent of total funding will be used for conservation purposes and the improvement of people's welfare.
The remaining 25 percent will be managed by the local administration to build infrastructure.
"So the ordinance will not just be an income-generating tool for the administration, but will also contribute to environmental conservation and improve the welfare of local people who make an effort to protect the environment," he said.
The PDAM Menang state-run water company, which serves thousands of customers in Mataram city and west and central Lombok, has stated its support for the ordinance.
"An environmental service fee will be added to the monthly bills of PDAM Menang's customers," Basirun said, without specifying the amount of the service fee.
"We will give details after the ordinance has been passed," he said.
Source : www.thejakartapost.com
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