Working Towards Climate Change Mitigation and Nature's Protection

Monday, August 21, 2023, in Gobleg Village, Bali, Indonesia was the opening day of the third Jamboree Nusantara and the second Southeast Asia Region Summit for Young Leaders.

The Jamboree and Summit provide the space for the younger generation to able to understand disaster mitigation and climate change adaptation, as more and more climate change impacts are being felt in their various communities in SEA region. The Adat Dalem Tamblingan (ADT) indigenous peoples are hosting this event in their village, while it is being organized by Wisnu Foundation, Baga Raksa Alas Mertajati (BRASTI), and Samdhana Institute.

I Gusti Agung Ngurah Pradnyan, leader of the indigenous people in Dalem Tamblingan expressed deep gratitude for the event which brought together indigenous youth from seven countries in Southeast Asian. It is an opportunity for ‘awakening the youth’, including the indigenous youth in ADT.  Their traditions have existed since the 9th century, protecting nature and helping them to stay alive.

“Adanya acara ini, masyarakat kami disini juga bisa bangkit, dengan hadirnya teman-teman asia untuk bersama menjaga alam ini, keharmonisan antara alam dan kehidupan (With this event, our community here can also rise, with the presence of Asian friends to protect nature together, harmony between nature and life),” said I Gusti Agung Ngurah Pradnyan, who welcomed the participants in Catur Desa, a place where people’s strong belief has helped to keep the balance between humanity and nature for many years. The ADT people are living out an example  how to sustain the natural integrity, through their spiritual beliefs and local resource management practices.

“Ini merupakan konsep umat hindu yaitu Tri Hita Karana, manusia tidak akan bahagia tanpa ada keseimbangan dalam kehidupan kita ini. Semoga pemuda-pemuda yang ikut serta dalam konferensi pemuda ini menjadi tonggak sejarah dan menjaga alam ini ("This is a Hindu concept,  Tri Hita Karana: humans will not be happy without balance in our lives. Hopefully the youth participants in this conference will protect nature)," said I Gusti Agung Ngurah Pradnyan, explaining that their belief is a Hindu concept that teaches about keeping the balance between humanity and nature. He hopes the indigenous youth participants will be willing to protect the nature as well.

It is a crucial reminder to the young participants to take well thought out actions and look back into their respective indigenous or ethnic cultures that help to sustain nature for their future and for the coming generations.

The practice of ADT in protecting nature is also adopted in Bali government's program, namely Nangun Sat Kerthi, which aims to rehabilitate forests, rivers, lakes, and beaches. This program needs the community’s help to make it effective throughout the island. Bali, being a popular tourist destination, also faces problems related to waste. Some organizations conduct waste management education, but there is a need to spread it more widely in order to address this common problem.

"Menjaga lingkungan tidak hanya tugas pemerintah. Perlu partisipasi masyarakat. Masyarakat adat memiliki kekuatan untuk melindungi lingkungan, seperti masyarakat di Catur Desa ADT, yang menjaga ritus air, memuliakan air, berbagi kesejahteraan," said Gede Melandrat, Head of the Buleleng Regency Environmental Service. He said that the government is not the only entity responsible for environmental protection. Community participation is needed. Indigenous peoples, like those in Catur Desa of ADT, who uphold water traditions, glorify water, and share welfare, have the power to safeguard the environment.

Cooperation of various sectors is therefore crucial to resolving environmental issues.

"Hopefully, what we are doing today will result into good things for the nature of Bali. Collaboration between generations and the sharing  of good practices like those of the Adat Dalem Tamblingan to other young people are   efforts that Samdhana supports. This is also a way to promote and support  the role of indigenous peoples in protecting the environment," said Martua Sirait, Deputy Executive Director of Samdhana Institute for Indonesia operation.

Samdhana continually supports the creation of places where people can come together to share ideas, learn innovations of local groups, and advance understanding about the relationship between the environment and people.

We continue to 'listen and co-create' in line with Samdhana’s 20th year celebration. As we look into the next 20 years of supporting the social and environmental movement, Samdhana looks at the local and indigenous youth, such as those of the Adat Dalem Tamblingan, who can contribute to nature restoration by learning from the wisdom of their Elders,  explore better community approaches by exchanging ideas with one another, and utilizing local knowledge.

The third Jamboree Nusantara and the second Southeast Asia Region Summit for Young Leaders  bring together 132 participants from Indonesia,  Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, including the organizing committee, facilitators, and volunteers. The  event is taking place at the Dalem Tamblingan Traditional Area in Catur Desa (Gobleg, Munduk, Gesing, and Umejero Village), Banjar District, Buleleng Regency, Bali, from August 20–25, 2023.