Community participation in soil and water conservation as a disaster mitigation effort

Abstract

Upstream watershed management that is not suitable for its carrying capacity causes watershed degradation, shown by the land degradation and landslides in the upstream area (on-site), sedimentation, flooding, and drought in the downstream area (off-site). One of the disaster mitigation efforts is the implementation of soil and water conservation in the upstream watershed, which requires community participation. Generally, community participation is still passive participation. The research aimed to identify community participation in soil and water conservation, and efforts to increase community participation in mitigating hydro-meteorological disasters. The research was conducted in the Micro Naruan Catchment, upstream of the Keduang Sub Watershed, the Bengawan Solo Watershed. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and Focus Group Discussions. The data are community perceptions of soil and water conservation, local wisdom related to soil and water conservation, and community participation of soil and water conservation activities from planning to evaluation. As mitigation efforts, soil and water conservation activities include planting perennial crops and controlling surface and gully erosion. The results show that: 1) people in the upstream watershed do not fully understand the linkages between upstream and downstream in the watershed; 2) community participation in soil and water conservation is not yet optimal; and 3) the community has local wisdom in soil and water conservation. To increase community participation in soil and water conservation, it is recommended that the techniques and patterns applied are not only to reduce disaster risk but also to improve the community’s economy.