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THE IMPACT OF LAND CLEARING ACTIVITIES ON WATER RESOURCES OF RURAL COMMUNITIES: A CASE STUDY OF NG BUDU RURAL GROWTH CENTRE, SARATOK, SARAWAK
Joshua Oniyeye Ak Graman
MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (LAND USE AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT)
2009
Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik UNIVERSI77 MALAYSIA SARAWAK
THE IMPACT OF LAND CLEARING ACTIVITIES ON WATER RESOURCES OF RURAL COMMUNTIES: A CASE STUDY OF NG BUDU RURAL GROWTH CENTRE, SARATOK, SARAWAK
P. KHIDMAT MAKLUMAT AKADEMIK UNIMAS
1000246502
JOSHUA ONIYEYE AK GRAMAN 06031490
Supervisor Dr Lim Po Teen
A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Environmental Science (Water Resource and Land Use Management)
2009
Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi Sumber UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
This work is lovingly dedicated to:
Daisy My darling wife, whose support and love for me never fails to lift
me above the clouds of defeat and mediocrity.
And my family members for their prayer, encouragement, patient and tolerance. .
Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik UNIVERSITi MALAYSIA SARAWAK
TABLE OF CONTENT
Page
List of Appendices
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Plates
Abbreviation
Acknowledgement
Abstract
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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Background of study
1.3 Problem statement
1.4 Research objectives
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CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Issues relevant to sustainable forest management and water conservation
2.2 Socio-economic importance of water resources 2.3 Sustainable management and protection of water
resource
2.4 Changes and viewpoint
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CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Sampling methods 3.2 Water analysis
3.3 Sampling and location
3.4 Analytical methods 3.5 Household survey, questionnaire and structural
interview
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3.6 Semi-structured interview with individuals and groups ......... 31
CHAPTER IV RESULTS 4.1 Water quality ........................... 33 4.2 Community survey and interviews ........................... 45
CHAPTER V DISCUSSION
5.1 Sources of pollution .............................. 60
5.2 Human-induced land degradation .............................. 61
CHAPTER VI SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1 Agricultural impacts on water quality ........................... 66
6.2 Conserving soil and water quality ........................... 68
6.3 Recmmendations 71
REFERENCES ......................................................... 73
APPENDICES ......................................................... 77
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LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix A: The Department of Environment Interim Water Quality Classification
Appendix B: Water Analysis result of Sg Budu and Sg Krian
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77
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Appendix C: Questionnaire ......... 79
Appendix D: Water Quality Module Reference Table ......... 83
Appendix E: Proposed Site for Rubber Mini Estate (river bank of Krian river near Ng Budu RGC)
Appendix F: Proposed Site for Rubber Mini Estate (Ng Ensawa)
Appendix G: Proposed Site for Rubber Mini Estate (Ulu Gerenjang )
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III
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure 1: Water Quality Monitoring Stations of Krian River Basins ......... 6
Figure 2: Agricultural Development Projects
Figure 3: A Sketch Map showing location of Water Sampling points
Figure 4: Mean temperature of water samples Figure 5: pH value Figure 6: Conductivity
Figure 7: Dissolved oxygen Figure 8: Total dissolved solid Figure 9: Total suspended solid Figure 10: Turbidity
Figure 11: Ammonical nitrogen
Figure 12: Nitrate
Figure 13: Phosphate
Figure 14: Respondents distribution by gender according to age category
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Figure 15: Effect of plantation development to natural resources ......... 47
Figure 16: Land clearing activities that cause loss of natural resources ......... 47
Figure 17: Impact of logging activities to natural resources ......... 49
Figure 18: Record of diarrhoel disease (Ng Budu Health Clinic) ..,,,,.,, 53
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Location of Water Sampling Stations
Table 2: Distance of oil palm plantation/rubber mini- estate from the longhouses
Table 3: Distance of logging activities from the longhouses
Table 4: Fish species caught in rivers around the Ng Budu RGC
Table 5: Runoff and soil loss under different cover vegetation
Table 6: Amount of fertilizers required to compensate for nutrient removal and immobilization in oil palm plantation
LIST OF PLATES
Plate 1: Road approaching the Ng Budu Rural Growth Centre
Plate 2: SK Ng Budu Primary School
Plate 3: Agricultural Department Building at Ng Budu
Plate 4: Governement Rural Health Clinic
Plate 5: Local church (Gereja SIB Ng Budu)
Plate 6: Water pipe hanging over Sg Pillai, Ulu Krian
Plate 7: Fishing trip at Sg Budu with a local fisherman
Plate 8: Rainforest logging (upstream of Ng Budu)
Plate 9: In-situ measurement of water quality parameters
Plate 10: Interview session with the Officer In Charge of Ng Budu Rural Health Clinic
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Page Plate 11: Proposed site for a reservoir at Wong Pillai,
Ulu Krian ........... 56
Plate 12: Site used for temporary depositing of gravel mined from Sg Budu
Plate 13: Road previously used for transporting logs
Plate 14: Oil palm road which is also used to reach illegal logging area
Plate 15: New Rubber mini estate near Senulau
Plate 16: Badly eroded agricultural land at Ng Puak
Plate 17: Sampling station 1 (Sg Budu)
Plate 18: Sampling station 2 (Sg Budu)
Plate 19: Sampling station 3 (Sg Krian)
Plate 20: Sampling station 3 (Sg Krian during flood)
Plate 21: New rubber mini-estate
Plate 22: Road used for illegal logging activity
Plate 23/ Stacks of logs at Ng Budu junction Plate 24:
Plate 25: Approaching the Ng Budu junction
Plate 26: Ng Budu Government Health Clinic
Plate 27/ Rainwater collection tanks at SK Ng Budu Plate 28:
Plate 29: Entrance to SK Ng Budu
Plate 30: At the entrance of the road to Ng Budu RGC
Plate 31/ At Wong Pillai, Ulu Krian Plate 32:
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ABBREVIATIONS
AEZ - Agro-ecological Zoning
DOE - Department of Environment
EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
INWQS - Interim National Water Quality Standard
IRBM- Integrated River Basin Management
MOH - Ministry of Health
MOSTE - Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment
NREB - Natural Resources and Environment Board
RGC - Rural Growth Centre
WHO - World Health Organization
WQI - Water Quality Index
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
°C- degree Celsius
ha - hectare
km - kilometer
m- meter
m3 - cubic meter
mg - milligram
pH -a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to put on record my appreciation and gratitude to Dr Lim Po Teen, my research supervisor and Prof. Dr Lau Seng, my research examiner, for their constructive criticism, ideas and advice before and during the study and for commenting on the manuscript. Special thanks are also due to Mr. Stanley Bye Kadam, the course coordinator, and all the lecturers of SLUSE-M Masters Programme for their helpfulness. I would also like to thank Mr. Tawan Ak Tukau Inyau, the Agric. Assistant of Ng Budu Agriculture Department and Mr Zulzahar, Officer In-charge of Ng Budu Government Health Clinic, for their help and cooperation. I am also indebted to the headmen and the people of the three longhouses concerned - Rh Chandi (Ng Budu), Rh Bunyih (Tanjung Bangkit, Senulau) and Rh Jabu (Senulau) - for their kindness and generosity.
Joshua Oniyeye ak Graman Rantau Kechala, Saratok 10 April, 2009
The Impact Of Land Clearing Activities On Water Resource Of Rural Communities: A Case Study of Ng Budu Community Development Centre,
Saratok, Sarawak
Abstract
(A study was carried out in March and May 2008 to assess the water quality of the
two rivers upon which the Ng Budu Rural Growth Centre (RGH), Saratok depends for water supply. A total of three sampling stations were selected in this study, one for Sg Krian and two for a feeder river, Sg Budu. Eleven water quality parameters were analyzed based on in-situ and ex-situ analysis during study period; and a laboratory analysis were carried out according to the HACH and APHA methods) Results for in-situ water quality parameters are pH (7.03 - 7.13), dissolved oxygen (6.06 - 6.20 mg/L), conductivity (0.020 - 0.025 PS/cm) and temperature (26.8 - 26.9°C). For ex-situ water quality parameters, results for TDS (0.013 - 0.017 mg/1), for TSS (43.20 - 64.33 mg/L); for turbidity (11.6 - 22.5 NTU), and for nutrients (Ammonical nitrogen: 0.049 - 0.085 mg/L; Nitrate: 0.09 - 0.22 mg/L; Phosphate: 0.04 - 0.14 mg/L). Recently, activities such as illegal logging, agricultural activities and development activities have been reported in the surrounding areas of the centre. The impact of these activities have raised some environmental concern to water resources of Sg Budu RGH and adjacent areas which may lead to deterioration of water quality in long term.
Key Words: Water quality parameters, Feeder River, Sg Budu, Sg Krian
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Impak Aktiviti-aktiviti Pembangunan Tanah He Atas Sumber Air Komuniti Luar Bandar: Suatu kajian di Pusat Pembangunan Komuniti Desa Ng
Budu, Saratok, Sarawak
Ringkasan
Suatu kajian ini telah dijalankan pada bulan Mac dan Mei 2008 untuk menilai kualiti air pada dua batang sungai dari mana Pusat Pembangunan Komuniti Desa Ng Budu, Saratok bergantung untuk bekalan air. Tiga stesen persampelan telah dipilih dalam kajian ini, satu dari Sg Krian dan dua yang lain dari Sg Budu. Sebanyak sebelas parameter kualiti air telah dianalisa berdasarkan analisisa di tempat kajian dan di makmal; dan analisis di makmal dijalankan mengikut kaedah HACH dan APHA. Keputusan yang diperolehi untuk parameter kualiti air di tempat kajian termasuklah nilai pH (7.03 - 7.13), oksigen terlarut (6.06 - 6.20 mg/L), kekonduksian (0.020 - 0.025 pS/cm) dan suhu (26.8 - 26.9°C). Analisa yang dibuat di makmal menunjukkan nilai untuk TDS (0.013 - 0.017 mg/1), untuk TSS (43.20 - 64.33 mg/L); untuk kekeruhan (11.6 - 22.5 NTU), dan nutrien (Ammonical nitrogen: 0.049 - 0.085 mg/L; Nitrat: 0.09 - 0.22 mg/L; Fosfat: 0.04 - 0.14 mg/L). Kebelakangan ini beberapa aktiviti seperti pembalakan secara haram, aktiviti pertanian serta beberapa projek pembangunan telah berkembang pesat di beberapa kawasan di sekitar pusat berkenaan. Impak aktiviti-aktiviti ini telah menimbulkan beberapa isu alam sekitar khusunya kepada Sg Budu dan kawasan di sekitarnya di mana kualiti air akan merosot pada masa hadapan.
Kata Kunci: Kualiti air, Sg Budu, Sg Krian
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
In Malaysia, small streams or rivers contribute about 99% of the raw water
for water supply with the remaining 1% of the supply coming from
groundwater (Pillay et al. 2001). Raw water is usually extracted at various
intake points along the riverbanks preferably near to homes or water
treatment plants. In other places dams are built across rivers to create
reservoirs from which water is drawn for water treatment plants so as to
meet the ever increasing demand for raw water.
Various agencies are responsible to help monitor water quality. The
Department of Environment (DOE) monitors river basins and their relation
with major pollution sources while the Ministry of Health (MOH) is
responsible for monitoring the raw water quality in the reservoirs at intake
points of treatment plants. State Water Authorities or private companies
then supply piped drinking water from these treatment plants to the
population.
Currently the majority of the urban population in Malaysia is served through
reticulated systems from water treatment plants using all or some of the
conventional treatment processes of aeration, coagulation and flocculation,
sedimentation, filtration and chlorination. However the effectiveness of
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smaller treatment plants where only chlorination was used are now under
threat due to rapid development taking place.
In some rural areas, local folks obtained their water supply from rivers,
ground and rain water. Potential water sources are identified from areas that
have traditionally been known away from anthropogenic pollution. After
identification of such a source the water quality is tested against current
standards, and if found to be suitable is allowed to be used as a source for
drinking water by the community. Clean water from these sources is supplied
through gravity feed systems, wells with or without house connections and by
the collection of rainwater.
The rural populations also had access to safe drinking water, and in areas
where the supply was not through treated piped water systems nearly a
quarter were supplied with safe water by the MOH under their Rural
Environmental Sanitation Programme where systems have been funded in
part by community participation, although in recent years this has been less
successful (Pillay et al. 2001). In areas nearer to towns the MOH also funds
the connection of homes to treated water supplies.
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1.2 Background Of The Study
The Ng Budu Rural Growth Centre (RGH) is situated in the upper Krian
river basins (1° 45' 51" N latitude and 1110 30' 57' E longitude) in Betong
division of Sarawak at the confluence of the Sungai Budu and Sungai Krian.
The Ng Budu RGC involve the clustering of three longhouses, encompassing
the main longhouse of Ng Budu (TR Chandi) and a cluster of longhouses
namely Tanjung Bangkit, Senulau (TR Bunyih) and Ng Senulau (TR Jabu).
The RGC is provided with the necessary facilities and infrastructure such as
primary school, a government health clinic, a church, water, electricity and
other amenities (Plates 2- 5).
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The objectives of setting up a Rural Growth Centre are:
i) to eradicate poverty,
ii) to ensure a balanced development between urban and rural areas,
iii) to improve the equality of life of the rural population, and
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Pusat Khidmat MaklumatAkademik UNIVERSI77 NIIALAYSIA SARAWAK
iv) to establish and strengthen the rural urban linkages between the
rural hinterland and the neighboring towns (Fatimah and Mad Nasir,
1997).
The RGCs involve the diversification of the rural economy based on the
development of agro-based small scale industries and non-agricultural
activities and services. These are aimed at enhancing the urban environment
and infrastructure for a more effective linkage with the mainstream economic
activities. The strategy of RGCs through rural urbanisation and agricultural
commercialisation and modernisation are expected to provide the impetus for
the growth of the rural areas.
However, there are bound to be negative impacts from these development
drives on the environment. Natural resources become gradually depleted or
endemic species of flora or fauna was threatened to the extent of becoming
extinct. To this end, the relevant government agency has set up Water
Quality Monitoring Stations (Figure 1) to help safeguard the quality of raw
water in rivers or other resources in the country.
In the past, villagers in Ng Budu RGC depended on the river for food,
transportation and subsistence. Fishing was carried out on a sustainable and
traditional basis and threat due to over-fishing was almost non-existent;
villagers only catch fish to supply daily need for protein. Traditionally the
people of the longhouses are hill rice farmers and other communities are
spread further upstream of both the Krian and Budu rivers.
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ý
Figure 1: Water Quality Monitoring Stations of Krian River Basins
Over the years, with more land clearance and development upstream and
pollution from nearby areas, I have observed that there has been a significant
loss of large dipterocarp forest areas and wildlife resources have become
scarce. These lead to the migration of the younger generations of the village
to urban areas searching for a more secure and stable jobs such as working in
the cities or oil palm and rubber plantations nearby.
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1.3 Problem Statement
The Ng Budu RGC has experienced rapid changes related to the water
quality of the two adjacent rivers from where the people get their supply of
clean raw water. Most villagers do not fetch water from nearby rivers as in
the past but would rather prefer piped water system. Unfortunately dams
built across small streams upriver get dried up especially during drought and
maintenance work has been a problem considering the distance of the dam
and the longhouse and also the condition of the pipes used to transport water
to longhouses (Plate 6).
Plate 6: Water pipe hanging over Sg Pillai, Ulu Brian
Beside, there have been complaints made by the local of encroachment by
illegal logging activities to water catchment's areas. The other potential
sources of water pollution are agricultural activities and gravel mining.
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Oil palm plantations and rubber mini-estates are expanding rapidly
involving both local small holders and government agencies such as Sarawak
Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Agricultural development projects- Krian basins
The livestock farms and fish ponds by the riverside of Sg Krian may also
contributed to the deterioration of the water quality especially downstream
as there is a possibility that untreated effluent is released direct into the
river. All these sources of pollution pose a threat to the Ng Budu RGC with
regard to their sources of water.
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1.4 Research Objectives
Various human activities have been known to directly degrade the natural
environment particularly with regard to river water quality in rural areas of
Sarawak. These include the clearing of forests and natural vegetation for
agriculture activities, timber harvesting, excessive use of fertilizers and
pesticide with the development of agriculture plantations in steeplands and
discharge of untreated waste water and raw sewage.
River Quality Monitoring Programme was carried out by the Natural
Resources and Environment Board (NREB), Sarawak beginning in 1998 with
its aim to protect and manage the environment in Sarawak. This is in line
with Government effort to control development activities, especially in the
upstream areas, and the State Government decision to maintain the water
quality of all rivers in Sarawak to at least Class IIB of the INWQS (Sumok,
2001).
The specific objectives of this research were as follows:
a) To assess and establish a "baseline" data on the water quality of the Sg
Budu and upper basin of Sg Krian rivers;
b) To identify specific existing or emerging water quality problems;
c) To identify the types of pollutants discharge into the rivers;
d) To identify the possible sources of pollutants; and
e) To gather information and make recommendations for follow-up action to
maintain and improve the water quality of the rivers.
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With rapid developments taking place and increasing human populations,
the range of requirements for water has increased together with greater
demands for higher water quality.
A more thorough study is needed to help verify the local villagers' complaint
with regard to the raw water quality of both the Sg Budu and Sg Krian. This
will also serve as "baseline" on the water quality of the upstream areas of Sg
Krian as there has been no research being done on the matter yet. The
probable deposition of heavy metal from gravel mining in sediments of the
river bed may provide the answer to why there has been a drastic decline in
fish density.
Plate 7: Fishing trip at Sg Budu with a local fisherman
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Hopefully the outcomes of the study will help in monitoring the raw water
quality as development projects such as oil palm plantations or mini rubber
estates commence. The degree by which the areas has been polluted in the
next decade can be easily compared thus provide both the developers and the
land owners a clear indication of the situation of the day.
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