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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V

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ix

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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

Page

77

......... 78

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

iv

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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V

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

Vii

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

ix

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

X

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

1

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.

2

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).

3

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

4

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.

5

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.

6

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.

7

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.

9

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

10

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.

I1