Guarding the Cidanau River Basin in Banten, Farmers Receive Incentives Up to IDR 1.7 Million per Hectare
The Environmental Service Payment (PJLH) programme for the Cidanau catchment has been running for 20 years, but was halted in 2024 due to regulatory adjustments. It has now restarted through the signing of a cooperation agreement (PKS) between PT Krakatau Tirta Industri (KTI), the Forum Komunikasi DAS Cidanau (FKDC), and Perum Jasa Tirta II (PJT II) at the Excellence Center of PT KTI in Cilegon City on Friday, 22 May 2026.
The signing was witnessed directly by the Governor of Banten, Andra Soni, representing the regional government. Andra said the cooperation represents a joint commitment to safeguarding the upstream area of the Cidanau basin.
“This is really a continuation of a partnership that has been carried out for decades to conserve the Rawa Danau area, which is managed through collaboration between the Forum Komunikasi DAS Cidanau and the downstream water users,” Andra said.
He hopes the conservation can continue with involvement from local communities. He said this step is important for maintaining environmental sustainability.
“We hope this cooperation will first ensure the conservation continues effectively, and that the environment is well protected because of local community involvement in these activities,” he added.
Andra emphasised that the growing need for raw water in Cilegon must be balanced with protection of the catchment areas in the upstream region.
“We recognise that Cilegon requires a large amount of raw water, so we must safeguard our catchment areas to keep them sustainable,” he said.
Operating for 20 Years
The PJLH programme for the Cidanau catchment is a conservation scheme based on collaboration between downstream water users and upstream communities who protect the watershed. Through this scheme, forest farmer groups receive support to maintain land cover, preserve trees, and maintain the integrity of the water catchment area to ensure sustainable water resources.
Acting Director of PT Krakatau Tirta Industri, Dendin Hermawan, said the cooperation is important to continue the conservation of the Cidanau watershed. Previously, the programme paused in 2024 due to regulatory adjustments in water resources management.
“PT KTI and FKDC have agreed to sign the cooperation, and this year it involves Perum Jasa Tirta II. This environmental service payment programme is used by RI’s Bappenas as a reference or model in Indonesia,” Dendin said.
He explained that over two decades the PJLH programme has delivered substantial benefits to communities in the upstream areas and to water users downstream.
“During 20 years of implementing conservation to keep the natural resources or water resources in the Cidanau watershed sustainable, the Rawa Danau Nature Reserve remains preserved as well. The programme involves communities, particularly forest farmer groups, and God willing has provided benefits to those upstream and to us downstream,” he said.
According to Dendin, PT KTI uses the Cidanau River flow about 600 metres before it reaches the sea. The water source originates from the upstream area of the Cidanau watershed that flows towards Rawa Danau and the Cidanau River before being used as industrial raw water and for community needs.
Meanwhile, FKDC Secretary-General NP Rahadian said the PJLH programme involves 12 forest farmer groups (KTH) with a total land area of up to 300 hectares and around 650 farmers involved.
“The Cidanau catchment covers 22,620 hectares,” he added.
Each farmer group manages around 25 hectares of land with a requirement to protect at least 500 trees per hectare.