In general, there should still be a large-scale effort to encourage the improvement of water qualityJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Environmental Quality Index (IKLH) rose by 0.97 points in 2022 compared to the previous year, Director General of Environmental Pollution and Destruction Handling at the Environment and Forestry Ministry (KLHK), Sigit Reliantoro, has said.
This year, IKLH nationally reached 69.22 points, driven by various factors, he informed during the “KLHK 2022 Year-End Reflection” event, which was streamed virtually on Thursday.
The factors include an increase in the Air Quality Index (IKU) and Sea Water Quality Index (IKAL), which also met the national target.
The Water Quality Index (IKA) also increased though it did not meet the national target.
Meanwhile, the Land Quality Index (IKL) remained at the same level as the previous year and did not reach the national target.
At least 14 provinces and 225 districts or cities reached the IKA target for this year. Water quality improved in 192 districts or cities while it declined in 157 districts or cities, Reliantoro informed.
"In general, there should still be a large-scale effort to encourage the improvement of water quality," he said.
"This is because only 41.2 percent of provinces and 43.8 percent of districts or cities are able to meet the Water Quality Index improvement target," he added.
Meanwhile, 29 provinces managed to achieve this year's IKU target along with 394 districts or cities.
At least 40 districts or cities managed to raise their IKU evaluation from good to very good, and 2 districts or cities raised their status from moderate to good.
Meanwhile, 14 districts or cities recorded a decline in IKU status from very good to good.
According to the ministry's data, the IKL target for 2022 was reached by 16 provinces and 165 districts or cities, while all provinces met the IKAL target this year.
At the district or city level, there was a rise in IKL value in 145 districts or cities with green open space expanding by 148,689 hectares.
"However, this figure should be corrected because, in 116 districts or cities, there are 1.5 million hectares of peatland that still have canals, one of the indications of peatland ecosystem destruction," Reliantoro pointed out.
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Translator: Prisca T V, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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