Sow the seeds of tsunami ready community in Indonesia: Lesson learned from Tanjung Benoa, Bali

Abstract

UNESCO/IOC established the Ocean Decade Tsunami Program within the framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science 2021–2030. The program is based on two overarching aspects: (1) exploring technological advances to reduce uncertainty and improve the timeliness of tsunami detection, and (2) promoting community preparedness efforts, including implementing the 100% Tsunami Ready for all at-risk coastlines by 2030. In Indonesia, there are 5744 prone to tsunamis villages. Tanjung Benoa, Bali, became the first village in Indonesia to have been recognized by UNESCO/IOC as a Tsunami-Ready. The process went through various stages and involved many parties. In search of leveraging elements to accelerate the process of implementing Tsunami Ready in Indonesia, we took the initiative to study and identify dynamic factors in Tanjung Benoa that are generic in nature and can be applied to other villages. We pinpoint 4 factors that must interplay dynamically within the science-policy-practice continuum interaction in advocating Tsunami Ready in Tanjung Benoa. Those factors are local leaders, stakeholders’ engagement, capacity intervention, and community readiness.