Seeking a New Balance in the Deteriorating Upper Citarum Basin

Abstract

The Citarum basin in West Java has been increasingly strained by rapid population increase and uncontrolled urban growth of Bandung, second city of Indonesia. Development has come to a point of overpopulation of the watershed. In the wake of economic recession urban dwellers are moving out and becoming farmers on the mountain slopes, bringing ever larger slope surfaces under cultivation. The article describes the emerging problems, especially heavy hillside erosion and severe valley inundations during heavy rains. It discusses the problems of integrated regional planning to replace sectorial planning in specialized sectors. In the efforts of creating a better understanding of nature supportive activities among people, the traditional puppet theatre, wayang, is being used as a powerful intermediary in the communication process.