Mahulu Regency Partners with YKAN to Realize Sustainable Development Commitments

The Government of Mahakam Ulu Regency (Mahulu), located in East Kalimantan Province, has collaborated with the conservation organization Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) to assist the government in achieving sustainable development goals. This cooperation agreement was officially signed in Jakarta on Wednesday, June 18, and will be valid for five years from the date of signing.

Mahulu Regent Bonifasius Belawan Geh, who attended the event, emphasized that one of his administration’s key commitments is to develop measurable and contextually relevant policies. He further stated that these policies should strike a balance between ecological sustainability, the fulfillment of basic social needs, and the strengthening of the local economic foundation.

“Our regency has the largest rainforest in East Kalimantan Province. Therefore, this strategic partnership reaffirms the commitment of the Mahakam Ulu Regency Government to make sustainable development the main foundation in the planning and implementation of regional policies,” he said.

According to Bonifasius, this cooperation stems from YKAN’s track record, which since 2002 has assisted communities and governments in East Kalimantan Province in overseeing green development. Mahulu was one of the regencies supported by YKAN during the 2020–2024 period through the SEGAR Program funded by USAID.

“At the grassroots level, YKAN assists communities around forests to reduce deforestation rates through sustainable forest management, land-use planning, and community commodity development. At the same time, we are also supported in producing policies that promote sustainable area management and the application of biodiversity protection principles,” explained the Regent.

YKAN Executive Director, Herlina Hartanto, expressed her appreciation for Mahulu Regency Government’s commitment to managing their natural resources sustainably. According to Herlina, it is estimated that in the past 30 years, nearly 30 percent of the forest area in Kalimantan has been converted for plantation and extractive industry development.

“Yet, Kalimantan's forests are incredibly rich in biodiversity and store a significant amount of carbon, playing a key role in climate change mitigation. Therefore, we highly appreciate this initiative by the Regency Government,” said Herlina.

Herlina explained that one of the approaches used to assist communities in Mahulu is called SIGAP, which stands for Aksi Inspiratif Warga Untuk Perubahan. This approach emphasizes the role of communities as the primary actors in safeguarding and sustainably managing forests.

“We assist communities in identifying their potential and determining ways to develop these potentials to improve their welfare while still protecting the forests, which are their ancestral heritage,” explained Herlina.

Previously, YKAN supported five villages in Mahulu: Long Melaham Village, Batu Majang, Long Bagun Ilir, Long Bagun Ulu, and Batoq Keloq. The scope of their assistance encompassed support for sustainable natural resource management, strengthening spatial planning, improving community welfare, and enhancing capacity, institutions, and human resources.

Mahulu, a regency in East Kalimantan Province, was designated in 2013. It is situated upstream of the Mahakam River, the largest and longest river in Kalimantan. Approximately 86% of Mahulu’s landmass is covered in forests, with the majority being natural vegetation. These forests are categorized into Conservation or Protected Forests (668,821 hectares), Limited Production Forest Areas (556,185 hectares), and Production Forest Areas (107,316 hectares).