Ecological Mapping for the Development of Salt Production Centres in Indonesia during the Dutch Colonial Era

¹ Doctoral Program of History, Faculty of Humanities, University of Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia.

^* Corresponding author: zaki_dkp@yahoo.com

Abstract

This paper examines why the Dutch colonial government did ecological mapping for the development of salt centres in Indonesia and how it was carried out? It is analysed by historical method which includes heuristics, criticism, interpretation and historiography. Ecological mapping was carried out by the Dutch colonial government for the development of salt production centre sourced from sea water. It is the important factor to develop salt production centres concerning the situations of the coastal area in which sloping parallel to sea level, humid, dry air temperatures, low rainfall, non-porous soil types, and high wind speeds. The wind speed required for salt production is at least 5 m/sec, with air temperatures above 32o C during the day, as well as a maximum humidity of 50%. During the Dutch colonial government, it was recorded that in 1904-1917 the average wind speed was above 5 m/sec. Continued with the development of the salt production ecosystem, which includes the establishment of production areas equipped with bozem development, land layout, etc. By the ecological mapping, the salt development centre areas cover coastal area of Madura, several areas of Java’s north coast, and coastal areas of Sulawesi, including Jeneponto.