The idea of determining Kapuas Hulu district to be a conservation district is based on fact that there are various conditions of the existing condition of Kapuas Hulu and other external factors which can be integrative support to establish conservation district. It’s declared with the Decree of the Head District of Kapuas Hulu, No. 144/2003.
These factors include firstly, total area of Kapuas Hulu is 29,842 km2 in where 1,686,318 ha (56.51%) of it is a protected area (conserved area); secondly, there are two national parks in Kapuas Hulu; Betung Kerihun national park (800,000 ha) and Danau Sentarum nasional park (132,000 ha). Betung Kerihun national park is located directly adjacent to the conservation area in Sarawak, named Taman Negara Batang Ai and Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary.
It becomes the first trans-frontier reserve in Asia. Further this can be developed in the form of area-based development cooperation for natural conservation border in the region, for instance ecotourism and cultural tourism.
Biodiversity of Betung Kerihun and Danau Sentarum is a very valuable asset for scientific research and development.The responsibility of forestry management is important to be noticed. Geographically, Kapuas Hulu in the upper-stream area is important as a hydro-ecologically function for the downstream area as Kapuas river flows through five districts in West Kalimantan.
Protected area and buffer zones for the half of conservation area in Kapuas Hulu are included in the protected forest management unit IV with the total area 677,090 km2. It’s divided into two sections of protected forest management units, 12 resorts if protected forest management unit and 25 units of protected forests.
