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Gold processing at artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Indonesia is inherently risky due to the high severity and likelihood of accidents causing serious injury. The objectives of this study were to identify hazards, assess risks, and determine risk control measures in the ASGM location at Imandi Village, East Dumoga District, Bolaang Mongondow Regency, North Sulawesi Province. The method used was Hazard Identification Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC). The determination of work stages and identification of hazards was carried out through observation at 14 ASGM units and interviews with 14 informants consisting of 6 mining workers and 8 ASGM business owners. The risk assessment was carried out by observing and interviewing 8 experts as informants selected from health and environmental scientists, various offices of the Government Bolaang Mongondow Regency, and non-government institutions. The results showed that the stage of gold processing work in ASGM consists of 13 sources of hazards that can pose 16 risks. The obtained risk assessment results showed that 19% were low risk, 31% moderate risk, 25% high risk, and 25% very high risk caused by exposure to mercury through the gold ore burning process with a risk value of 25. The identified risk control measures were PPE (personal protective equipment) 43%, administrative controls 14%, engineering controls 14%, substitution 21%, and elimination 7%. Realistic risk controls that can be applied in ASGM are a combination of administrative controls and PPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species with limited dispersal abilities are often composed of highly genetically structured populations across small geographic ranges. This study aimed to investigate the haplotype diversity and genetic connectivity of the coastal horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas) in Indonesia. To achieve this, we collected a total of 91 samples from six main T. gigas habitats: Bintan, Balikpapan, Demak, Madura, Subang, and Ujung Kulon. The samples were amplified using primers for mitochondrial (mt) AT-rich region DNA sequences. The results showed 34 haplotypes, including seven shared and 22 unique haplotypes, across all localities. The pairwise genetic differentiation (FST) values were low (0 to 0.13) and not significantly different (p > 0.05), except among samples from Ujung Kulon-Madura and Kulon-Subang (p < 0.05). Additionally, the 34 analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed the most variation within populations (95.23%) compared to less among populations (4.77%). The haplotype network showed evidence of shared haplotypes between populations. Tajima’s D and Fu’s FS test values indicated a population expansion. Our results showed a low level of differentiation, suggesting a single stock and high connectivity. Therefore, a regionally-based conservation strategy is recommended for the coastal horseshoe crab in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper Citarum Watershed is critically threatened by LULCC especially due to rapid urbanization, forest conversion and agricultural expansion. Such changes have degraded the watershed and significantly impacted on the water quality in the upper Citarum River. In order to prevent such degradation, periodic LULCC monitoring is paramount. This study employed GIS and RS techniques to detect LULCC in Upper Citarum Watershed between 1997 and 2014. The results revealed a significant change in the proportions of the various LULC types of the study area from the year 1997 to 2014. Forest decreased by 41% between 1997 and 2005, and by 35% between 2005 and 2014. In the same time period, agricultural land increased by 8% and 2% from 1997 to 2005 and from 2005 to 2014 respectively. On the other hand built-up increased by 100% between 1997 and 2005, and by 65% between 2005 and 2014. Bare land increased by 56% between 1997 and 2005 but declined by 15% between 2005 and 2014. Bush land cover decreased by 14% between 1997 and 2005 and by 4% between 2005 and 2014. Water body decreased by 12% between 1997 and 2005, and 10% between 2005 and 2014. The study revealed that rapid urbanization was the change initiator and the major force driving LULCC in Upper Citarum Watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate information of paddy fields over wide areas is essential to support sustainable agricultural and a food security program. Monitoring of these lands continuously, using remote sensing technology, will provide information related to the cropping intensity in the field, as well as its dynamics change. We characterized seasonal vegetation dynamics from long-term multi-temporal MODIS satellite datasets in order to determine cropping intensity and to analyze the dynamics change in paddy field of Java. The results indicate that the methodology employed in this research distinguished many specific uses in paddy fields as means of their cropping intensity. Moreover, the seasons were the most important factor affected the dynamics change in the agricultural system. Extreme climate variability caused many paddy fields, especially in non-irrigated land, to remain barren as well the planting time was postponed. Indeed, characterizing the long-term vegetation dynamics of paddy field provides information about the characteristics and trends in these land use types, either caused by natural factors or human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]