19 November 2023
-
Palembang, Kabarsriwijaya.com – On October 28, 2023, the Community Service Team of LPPM USU, led by Dr. R. Sally Marisa Sihombing, S.I.P., M.Si., together with team members including Dr. Harmona Daulay, M.Si., Dr. Alamsyah, S.I.P., M.Si. (UNSRI), Muhammad Arifin Nasution, S.Sos., M.SP., and Head of Department at UNSRI, Dr. Muhammad Nur Budiyanto, S.Sos., MPA, conducted a Community Service activity through the USU National Talenta Collaboration at the Musi River, Palembang City. The activity was supported by junior lecturer Mr. M. Haekal Haffafah, S.Sos., M.Sos. from the Political Science Department of Universitas Sriwijaya. The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was attended by 35 residents aiming to raise awareness about water governance around the Musi River.
This activity is part of a collaboration between Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) and Universitas Sriwijaya (UNSRI), with the theme “Social Engineering in River Basin Management through GERTAKOLA Water Ecotourism at Musi River.” The focus is on addressing issues concerning the Musi River, specifically water governance, ecotourism, and the preservation of local culture.
The Community Service Team strives to tackle problems such as water pollution, irregularities in water areas, housing arrangement, and natural disasters through the GERTAKOLA program. The team encourages the community to regard the river as part of their local culture—an established cultural heritage aimed at achieving a prosperous life. Therefore, it is essential to utilize the water region in accordance with the local wisdom of the surrounding community. Ultimately, the riverside communities of the Musi River become the rightful owners of the river, capable of anticipating future natural disasters. Furthermore, the community service also seeks to involve Universitas Sriwijaya’s academic community in producing scientific studies grounded in community needs, which can then contribute to policy formulations regarding water governance based on the local wisdom of the community.
The expected outcomes of this initiative include the presentation of information at national and international seminars, production of YouTube videos, and the development of creative economy through a textbook entitled “Social Engineering of Musi River Basin Management through GERTAKOLA River Ecotourism for the Preservation of Traditional Ecology and Creative Economic Development.” All these activities aim to contribute positively to the preservation of the river water environment and the advancement of the local community’s creative economy.
Through national and international seminars, activity videos, and community service textbooks, the Service Team collaborates nationally with partners to disseminate information on water area management based on local culture, thereby realizing local wisdom in policymaking.
It is hoped that the strong participation of the local community in preserving the water environment and creating a water-based creative economy will increase alongside improved understanding of water management. (RLS)
