The Dutch-Indonesian East Kalimantan Programme is run by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Indonesian Consortium of Coastal and Marine Research.

Objective

The programme supports long-term scientific cooperation between Indonesian and Dutch research groups in coastal zone research. The aim is to generate alternative scenarios and explore options for the sustainable use of natural resources and services relevant to the local community and stakeholders.

Interrelationships

Coastal zones are rich biological systems consisting of a large variety of biotic and a-biotic processes. They are also the setting for many different social and economic activities. This combination of features makes coastal zones highly interesting subjects for research. Researchers have learned a great deal about tropical coastal systems in recent decades. What they do not fully understand, however, is how many of the components of their natural and social systems interrelate.

Multidisciplinary approach

The multidisciplinary approach taken in this programme will lead to a proper understanding of the dynamics of the East Kalimantan coastal systems. The programme considers the relationships between the various components of the coastal system, the socio-economic aspects that drive human activity, and the role of governance.

The research focuses on two field sites: the Berau Estuary and the Mahakam Delta.