The Chinese government injects financial assistance into infrastructure development in over 60 countries, through the Belt and Road initiative that is expected to benefit 4,4 billion people across the globe and contribute USD21 trillion to the global GDP. Journalists from Asia, Africa and South America discuss the media coverage of the mega project in their respective countries.
The young generation of Kubung Village, Central Kalimantan continues to instil diligence amongst themselves, to protect their forest that is rich with local fruits such as jengkol, durian and lanzones and are the main source of income for the indigenous Dayak Tomun. The movement is also part of their effort to reject oil palm plantation expansion in their village.
A program aimed to tackle waste issues and break a life-long habit of throwing waste into waterways was introduced by the Palembang administration. Every weekend, public officials and residents comb through sewers and rivers, lifting up truck-loads of garbage, in hopes of not just cleaning the city, but changing people’s behaviour.
Legal recognition for community-based forest management does not immediately increase people’s income or welfare. Three Pakpak Bharat forest farmers groups, which have obtained community forest permits, expressed the challenges they face following their permit issuance.
Excessive water exploitation has lead to the drying up of rivers and paddy fields in villages of Kudus district. Efforts have been taken including the prohibition of selling surface water from Mount Muria but water discharge is yet to improve. Water scarcity in Kudus calls for concerted effort in the conservation of protected forest of Mount Muria.
Since the 2000s, villagers in Sekaran, Semarang, Central Java, have been looking for new water sources and planting trees to prevent a water crisis in the area.
As natural water wells dwindle and awareness of environmental degradation increases, villagers of Bismo Keteleng and Tambakboyo in Batang District, Central Java join hands in preserving water springs and building water wells to meet clean water demand in their village and surrounding areas.
After years of preserving the bamboo forest, villagers of Sumbermujur of East Java are bearing the fruit of their hard labor, as water continues to flow from the Deling spring, allowing them to continue farming, consume clean water even during the dry season. Read more.
With abundant production of corn, Grobogan district administration aims to transform corn rice into alternative staple. A continuous effort in empowering its female farmers to process corn into more consumer-friendly products, may come into fruition. Read more.
Long time crop in South Sulawesi, jewawut or known as millet, is nearly abandoned by local people following challenges to develop the plant. Kaluppini tribe of Enrekang district, South Sulawesi, continue to grow the plant to preserve their indigenous ceremony and maintain their cultural identity.
