Integrated Catchment Management Planning for the Malili Lakes, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Location: Sulawesi, Lake Poso and Malili Lakes Corridor.
Status: Ongoing
Project area: Malili Lakes and their associated river catchments.
Project Partners: Yayasan Bumi Sawerigading (YBS), Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)
Background:
The Malili Lakes complex is a hydrologically lake and river complex under increasing threat from human activity through pollution and habitat destruction. Rising populations and an increase in illegal logging, agricultural expansion, mining and hydropower operations are contributing to the degradation of the freshwater environment, while freshwater species are potentially threatened by collection for trade and the introduction of invasive species. There is currently a lack of information and awareness of freshwater biodiversity within the region so existing conservation actions fail to recognise its importance and vulnerability.
Objectives:
This project aims to assess the status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in the Malili Lakes complex to raise awareness and improve conservation and sustainable use of freshwater biodiversity in the Malili Lakes catchment area.
Project Activities:
- Red List training workshop: Sulawesi, Palopo. Key stakeholders will be introduced to the project and regional capacity for Red Listing will be build.
- IUCN Red List Assessments: Red List assessments will be updated or drafted by species experts for all described freshwater fishes, molluscs, crabs and shrimps within the Malili lakes system. These assessments will be made freely accessible through the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs): Potential KBA sites will be identified using information from the Red List assessments. A KBA Workshop will be held to confirm freshwater KBAs sites, while Site Champions will be identified to help protect and promote the KBAs identified.
- Integrated Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment: An integrated wetland field assessment focused on the regions freshwater biodiversity combined with socio-economic information and identified threats will be conducted as the basis for subsequent development of an integrated catchment management plan.
- Integrated catchment management plan: A stakeholder led workshop in Papolo, with participants from village communities, local governments, and private & conservation sectors, will inform development of a catchment management plan to provide solutions that sustain livelihoods whilst conserving biodiversity.
- Pilot implementation of the Catchment Management Plan: Communities around Lake Mahalona, through YBS in collaboration with local government of East Luwu, will implement the management plan locally to build local capacity, support local livelihoods with a view to uptake and wider application by local government throughout the Malili Lakes Complex.
Donors:
"The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.
Photo: CEPF
Malili Lakes System
