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Rescue of Limboto Lake has become a major focus of Japan’s RIHN in geopark research
Gorontalo City, Public Relations – Rescue of Limboto Lake as one of the focuses of research collaboration in Gorontalo Geopark development with the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) Kyoto Japan.
According to the telephone interview with Budiyanto Sidiki, the Head of the Gorontalo Provincial Planning and Development Planning Agency on Saturday (6/7/2019), regarding this research collaboration, the Research and Development Division of the Gorontalo Provincial Development Planning Agency, Gorontalo Provincial Government has held several meetings with Professor Masayuki Sakakibara (RIHN) for the cooperation in research to propose the potential of the Gorontalo geopark to become a National Geopark and even become a Global Geopark.
Budiyanto explained, “Geopark, in general, can be defined as a management concept of sustainable area development that harmonizes geological, biological, and cultural diversity through the principles of conservation, education, and sustainable development in a holistic manner”.
Furthermore, the Head of Bappeda explained, based on data on Indonesia’s tectonic setting by Indonesian geologists, Gorontalo must be aware of the threat of earthquakes and tsunamis, as a disaster-prone area, Gorontalo is surrounded by 4 faults which at any time can cause earthquakes and tsunamis.
The position of Gorontalo is unique because in this area there is an earthquake threat from 4 sides, namely a fault in the North Sea, a fault that cuts through the mainland of Gorontalo, and a fault in the South and East. Based on this data, one of the faults that cross the Gorontalo plain is right across the Limboto lake.
Furthermore, Budiyanto revealed data from one of the Japanese geologists, Masayuki Sakakibara (RIHN Japan). This potential disaster is marked by the potential for hot springs in the pentadio area usually hot springs are in areas that have volcanoes/volcanic potential.
“Therefore, there is a need for more in-depth research on the potential for disaster due to the fault that crosses the Gorontalo area, especially Lake Limboto,” explained Budiyanto.
Data obtained from the R&D field of the Bappeda of Gorontalo Province, Limboto Lake is one of the geological resource assets belonging to the Gorontalo Province which acts as a flood prevention, water storage area, irrigation water source, fishery land, habitat for various fauna, and flora, a place for water sports. rowing), and tourism objects.
Geologically, this lake was formed due to very active tectonics on the northern arm of Sulawesi in particular and the tectonics of the island of Sulawesi in general. Limboto Lake is a low basin or lagoon, which is the mouth of the rivers in Gorontalo.
The current condition of Limboto lake is very alarming. Based on the data, the area of Limboto lake has decreased by 4,304 hectares (62.6%) or the average lake area has decreased by 66 hectares per year. And there is a possibility that this lake will disappear 37 years later, namely in 2044, and become land if there is no rescue of this lake.
Loss of the lake will increase due to the use of paddy fields and settlements towards the core of the lake valley so it is likely that this lake will disappear more quickly. Coupled with the potential for an earthquake in the Gorontalo area which can cause a lake tsunami and other possible disasters such as liquefaction.
“This is one of the concerns of the Gorontalo Provincial Government to appoint Limboto Lake as one of the geosites, so it is necessary to carry out research related to geological heritage as part of the potential for the development of the Gorontalo geopark which is expected to create geotourism products that protect geoheritage, help to build communities, communicate and promote geological heritage in Indonesia,” concluded Budiyanto.
Meetings related to this research have also been held by Bappeda in collaboration with RIHN some time ago and will also involve universities in Gorontalo such as the State University of Gorontalo and other universities such as the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
