ANALYSIS FACTORS AFFECTING WETLAND CONVERSION IN WEST SUMATERA PROVINCE, 1996-2009
Iwan Pramana, Prof. Natsumi Aratame
2012 | Tesis | S2 Magister Ek.Pembangunan-
In line with economic development, the competition of land resource utilization increases rapidly. This causes the conversion of wetland to non-agricultural utilization. Wetland conversion does not only affect production of rice but also leads to a loss of jobs for farmers and landowners and agricultural wage workers and a loss of agricultural investment such as irrigation, institutions and other infrastructures. It will also result in negative environmental consequences. According to data from the statistic agency in West Sumatera Province, 30,294 hectares worth of wetland has been converted during 1996-2009. Another research conducted by the National Development Planning Agency showed that wetland conversion inhibited the increase in rice production. The results of these studies also noted that about 78.6 percent of the policy makers in West Sumatera Province stated that wetland conversion rate was too high. Conducting this research, the author tries to find the driving forces behind the conversion of the wetland in West Sumatera Province. The researcher also elaborates on those problems by looking into the roles of formal and informal institutions and regulations with regards to the conversion of wetland. The method of analysis used in this study is both qualitative and quantitative. The research uses time series data for the period 1996-2009. Data were collected from Statistics Agency of West Sumatera Province. The findings show that farmer’s term of trade and the length of paved road have negative influences and significantly decrease the rate of wetland conversion when they increase. Whereas, the increase of productivity of paddy fields and an increase of irrigated rice fields have positive effects and increase the wetland area. The central government has issued various regulations relating to restrictions on agricultural land conversion. Nevertheless, their effectiveness is still limited. Meanwhile, the formal institutions (local government agencies) and non-formal institution (traditional village institution) also do not carry out their roles to protect the wetland from being converted to some other uses. The author concludes that in order to overcome the problem of wetland conversion, it is necessary to combine incentives for wetland owners to maintain their farming land and disincentive conditions for others who want to convert their wetland to other uses.
Kata Kunci : wetland conversion
