South Central Timor Regency

South Central Timor Regency (Indonesian: Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan) is a regency in East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. Established in 1958,[2] the regency has its seat (capital) in the town of Soe. It covers an area of 3,955.36 km² and had a population of 440,470 at the 2010 Census[3] and 455,410 at the 2020 Census;[4] the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 460,116.[1]

South Central Timor Regency Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan
Regency
A rumah bulat ("round house") traditional house of South Central Timor
Coat of arms
Location within East Nusa Tenggara
South Central Timor Regency Location in Timor, Lesser Sunda Islands and Indonesia Show map of Timor South Central Timor Regency South Central Timor Regency (Lesser Sunda Islands) Show map of Lesser Sunda Islands South Central Timor Regency South Central Timor Regency (Indonesia) Show map of Indonesia
Coordinates: 9°28′18″S 124°48′17″E
Country	Indonesia
Region	Lesser Sunda Islands
Province	East Nusa Tenggara
Capital	Soe
Government
• Regent	ir. Egusem Pieter Tahun, ST,MM
• Vice Regent	Johny Army Konay,SH
Area
• Total	1,524 sq mi (3,947 km2)
Population  (mid 2022 estimate)
• Total	460,116
• Density	300/sq mi (120/km2)
	[1]
Area code	(+62) 388
Website	ttskab.go.id

Mount Mutis, the highest mountain in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, is in the northern part of the regency. International visitors have noted that the region is rich in bird life and so is a good site for birdwatching.[5]

The local economy in the area is poor and underdeveloped. Subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity in many villages. In addition, when opportunities are available, some local village communities sometimes undertake unregulated mining or other resource-based activities. For example, in the Kolbano Beach area south of Soe, there is a local industry in the collection of coloured stones. The stones, which come in a range of attractive shapes and sizes, are sold to local companies. The companies in turn export the stones to countries such as Australia, China, Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere. Sacks of stones sell (mid-2012) for between Rp 10,000 to Rp 25,000 (about US$1.00 to US$2.50). Local villagers are reported to be able to earn around Rp 50,000 (US$5) per day collecting stones although there are complaints that the prices paid to workers who collect the stones are too low.[6]

However, there are concerns amongst some local community groups, such as the Molo people in the Mount Mutis Sanctuary, about the environmental impacts of mining in the area. There has been social resistance, for example, to the activities of mining firms conducting marble quarrying. Partly as a result of the local resistance, marble mining firms abandoned their work in the area in 2010.[7]