Affiliations: Puschkinallee 9, 12435 Berlin | Agribusiness Department, University of Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia | Am Pascheberg 1, 29664 Walsrode | Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), Fahrenheitstr. 6, 28359 Bremen, Germany | German Society for Human Ecology (DGH), Clayallee 271, 14169 Berlin, Germany
Abstract: We assume that social and ecological systems are closely connected.
Within the conceptual framework of Social-Ecological Systems (SES) analysis we
focus on poverty, health and sustainable development within the Siak River
catchment area in Riau Province (Sumatra). Substantial environmental changes in
the last ten years, especially the degraded water quality of the Siak River,
have directly affected the Siak ecosystem services and consequently the welfare
and the livelihood of people who depend on these services. Impacts occur on
income, health, job mobility and, to some degree, community culture for those
who live in the Siak River basin. The income of fi sher families has been
reduced signifi cantly forcing them to look for job alternatives elsewhere. The
contaminated water has caused diseases that were not reported ten years ago. Local village inhabitants, women specifi cally, are aware of the social-ecological nexus,
i.e. the connection between river pollution and people's health in the riverside village communities.
The economic disadvantages people experience from the degraded ecosystem services differ
between villages but have severely lowered the standard of living and quality of life in riverside settlements. Conclusions are drawn on the role of poverty, and the chances of alleviating health risks and pursuing sustainable
development for the Siak river basin are explored.
Keywords: Riverside communities, water pollution, health risks, women's role, poverty and social injustice
