SUSTAINABLE RIVER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BASED ON LOCAL WISDOM: A CASE STUDY IN MALINAU REGENCY, NORTH KALIMANTAN PROVINCE

This research focuses on efforts in sustainable river resource management based on local wisdom (customary law practices) in Long Nawang Village and the impacts of customary law practices on river resource preservation, especially to Mahseer fish habitat, in Long Nawang Village, Kayan Hulu, Malinau Regency, North Kalimantan. River resource management is conducted by the indigenous peoples of Long Nawang Village, Malinau Regency. It is due to the decline in Malinau's local fish habitat, i.e. mahseer fish. River resource management not only aims to protect Mahseer fish habitat but also to control river ecosystems. Local wisdom in this case customary law was used as the main source in river resource management. The customary law was derived from regulations originating from the community and carried out from generation to generation. The use of customary law was considered capable of maintaining river conditions so that it can be used as a source of natural management based on local wisdom. Fishing regulations around the Long Nawang rivers have been explained in customary law. There were several allowed fishing methods, including fishing with fishing rods, fishing nets or trawls. In addition to these methods, customary law also regulated prohibiting fishing methods, including by electrocution, poisoning, and fish bombing. The number of river exploitations, especially for Mahseer fish, is conducted by various parties. These parties were irresponsible people from outside Malinau Regency and even from other countries. This condition needs immediate handling, especially for other countries that have participated in Mahseer fish exploitation, and immediate attention from the central government so as not to continuously harm the Indonesian country. The impacts of customary law practices on river resources preservation, especially as a Mahseer fish habitat, in Long Nawang Village, Kayan Hulu, Malinau Regency, North Kalimantan were related to the high selling price, the delicious taste of mahseer fish, and the Masheer fish life patterns in a torrential current which attract the fishers' attention to catch them because of challenging fishing experience. A large number of fishers around the Long Nawang and Malinau Regency rivers from year to year have caused greater exploitation on Masheer fish.