The impact of climate change is increasingly felt by rural communities who rely heavily on natural resources, particularly those living in coastal areas. In an effort to strengthen resilience against disasters, the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Kemendes PDTT) conducted an official visit to the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) in Sanur, Bali, on Friday (27/9).

This visit aligns with Kemendes PDTT’s strategic move, following its recent regulation regarding the use of village funds for climate resilience programs. The regulation encourages villages to take an active role in initiatives that align with national priorities, including disaster mitigation and environmental conservation.

During the discussions, Kemendes PDTT Secretary-General Taufik Madjid emphasized the importance of CTC’s coastal conservation efforts as a valuable form of disaster mitigation that strengthens rural communities’ climate resilience. He commended the involvement of rural communities in CTC’s programs and expressed hopes for future collaboration to further enhance local capacity and awareness regarding disaster preparedness.

As a dedicated organization focusing on preserving marine biodiversity within the Coral Triangle, CTC has carried out numerous capacity-building and conservation initiatives that have had a positive impact on the climate resilience of rural communities.

These initiatives include a mangrove planting program involving elementary school students, the coral reef donation program ‘Adopt a Coral,’ which has planted over 1,500 coral reefs, and various educational and empowerment activities for coastal women, fishermen, and Marine Protected Area (MPA) managers at both national and local levels.

Secretary-General Taufik Madjid noted that around 60% of Indonesia’s villages are located in coastal areas, which are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. “This is a crucial point. Coastal areas are prone to disasters and therefore, disaster mitigation and capacity-building efforts must be prioritized. We must ensure that village funds are used effectively to benefit the communities, especially for coastal environmental conservation,” he stressed.

Taufik further expressed his interest in collaborating with CTC and other stakeholders. “In the future, we could consider launching pilot projects in selected villages to enhance disaster resilience, starting with strengthening the capacity of the local population,” he explained.

In response, Coral Triangle Center Executive Director Rili Djohani expressed her appreciation for Kemendes PDTT’s continuous support in empowering rural communities to contribute to environmental preservation through village fund regulations. “We are optimistic that village funds can empower communities to take an active and independent role in addressing environmental challenges in their areas. At CTC, we are committed to providing the necessary skills and knowledge so that communities can become more organized and self-reliant,” said Rili.

The visit was also attended by several other officials as well as the Kemendes PDTT Secretary-General Taufik Madjid – Mariana Diah Safitri from the Ministry of Finance’s Non-Tax Revenue Team, Senior Social Development Specialist from the World Bank Jessica Ludwig Maaroof, Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist from the World Bank Dayu Nirma Amurwanti, and the Advisor for the Swabina Pedesaan Salassae Community, Armin Salassa.

It is hoped that this visit will strengthen collaboration among stakeholders in developing preventive actions that support rural communities’ disaster resilience.

Writers: Asia Salsabilla
Photos: Adam Putra/CTC