Mekanisme Pembayaran Jasa Ekosistem untuk Kabupaten Mahakam Ulu: Analisis Kebijakan Daerah Aliran Sungai Mahakam - Muhammad Dzaudan Sani; Dhespy Tandi Pasauran; Muh Jamal; Jauchar B (HK-Publishing, 2026)
Abstract Mahakam Ulu District, as the upstream region of the Mahakam River Watershed, plays a strategic role in maintaining the ecological functions of the 920-kilometer river traversing East Kalimantan Province. This study aims to analyze the design of a payment for ecosystem services (PES) mechanism funded by provincial and district/city governments along the Mahakam River. Using a qualitative approach through instrumental case study, data were collected via in-depth interviews with 25 key informants from government agencies, academics, NGOs, and indigenous community leaders; policy document analysis; and comparative study of PES schemes across Indonesian and international watersheds. Findings indicate that: first, there is a significant asymmetry between the conservation burden borne by Mahakam Ulu and the economic benefits enjoyed by downstream regions; second, PES implementation faces institutional challenges including the absence of specific provincial regulations, fragmentation of authority among agencies, monitoring system limitations, and weak tenure security for indigenous communities; and third, an effective PES mechanism requires a Provincial Regulation, the establishment of a Mahakam Watershed Management Agency as a BLUD, and a performance-based incentive system. Contributions of 0.3–0.5% of APBD from beneficiary regions are estimated to mobilize IDR 60–80 billion annually to support sustainable Mahakam watershed conservation. Keywords: Payment for Ecosystem Services; Mahakam River Basin; Incentive-Based Conservation Abstrak Kabupaten Mahakam Ulu sebagai wilayah hulu Daerah Aliran Sungai (DAS) Mahakam memiliki peran strategis dalam menjaga fungsi ekologis sungai sepanjang 920 kilometer yang melintasi Provinsi Kalimantan Timur. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis desain mekanisme dana kompensasi jasa lingkungan (Payment for Ecosystem Services/PES) yang bersumber dari pemerintah provinsi dan kabupaten/kota di DAS Mahakam. Dengan pendekatan kualitatif melalui studi kasus instrumental, data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam dengan 25 informan kunci dari instansi pemerintah, akademisi, LSM, dan tokoh masyarakat adat; studi dokumen kebijakan; serta analisis komparatif terhadap skema PES di beberapa DAS di Indonesia dan internasional. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: pertama, terdapat asimetri signifikan antara beban konservasi Mahakam Ulu dan manfaat ekonomi yang dinikmati daerah hilir; kedua, implementasi PES menghadapi tantangan kelembagaan berupa ketiadaan regulasi spesifik di tingkat provinsi, fragmentasi kewenangan antar instansi, keterbatasan sistem monitoring, dan lemahnya tenure security masyarakat adat; dan ketiga, mekanisme PES yang efektif memerlukan Perda Provinsi, pembentukan Badan Pengelola DAS Mahakam sebagai BLUD, serta sistem insentif berbasis kinerja konservasi. Kontribusi daerah penerima manfaat sebesar 0,3–0,5% APBD diperkirakan memobilisasi Rp 60–80 miliar per tahun untuk mendukung konservasi DAS Mahakam secara berkelanjutan. Kata Kunci: Pembayaran Jasa Lingkungan; DAS Mahakam; Konservasi Berbasis Insentif