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Community-based River Conservation Initiatives and the Use of Drone Technology for Monitoring the Mahakam Sub-watershed Ecosystem, East Kalimantan
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In an Indonesian city, local volunteers teamed up with drone technology to spot pollution hotspots, like plastic waste, dirty runoff, and eroding riverbanks, in a river that many people depend on for daily life. Drones helped reveal trouble spots that were hard to see or reach from the ground, making cleanup and prevention efforts more targeted and effective. This matters because keeping rivers clean reduces the plastic and chemical waste that can break down into microplastics and pollutants, which eventually make their way into drinking water, fish, and the broader food supply that people rely on.
Tropical rivers play an essential role in maintaining biodiversity, providing ecosystem services, and supporting local livelihoods. However, river pollution caused by household waste, market waste, plastic packaging, disposable diapers, organic debris, detergent foam, and riparian degradation accompanied by localized sedimentation has become a major environmental challenge, particularly in Samarinda City, East Kalimantan. This study investigates community-based river conservation initiatives implemented by the Gerakan Memungut Sehelai Sampah Sungai Karang Mumus (GMSS–SKM) and explores the contribution of drone-assisted spatial observation to river conservation. The study employed a qualitative method combined with a spatial approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with the head of GMSS–SKM, field observations, documentation, literature review, and visual interpretation of drone aerial imagery. Data credibility was strengthened through source, method, and theory triangulation, while the findings were interpreted using a geographical perspective, particularly the regional-complex approach. The findings indicate that inorganic waste, particularly plastic packaging, disposable diapers, bottles, and food containers, predominated during the dry season, whereas the rainy season increased the accumulation of organic debris, wood fragments, mixed domestic waste, and sediment transported from upstream areas. Drone observations identified waste accumulation hotspots, degraded riparian vegetation, drainage outlets, localized sediment deposits, and river segments with limited ground accessibility. These spatial observations supported the prioritization of river clean-up, riparian greening, environmental education, and future river monitoring. The integration of community participation, local knowledge, and drone-assisted observation provides an effective decision-support approach for community-based river conservation.
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This review looks at ways to spot floating plastic trash in Southeast Asia's urban canals, from cameras and drones to AI detection tools, before it breaks down into microplastics that can reach our water and food. The takeaway: smart monitoring tech shows promise for catching plastic early, but it still needs more real-world testing before it can reliably guide cleanup efforts.
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