Consolidated of IPB Experts for Environmental Disasters
Centre for Disaster Studies of the Institute of Research and Community Empowerment of IPB (LPPM IPB), organized the Consolidation Meeting for Disaster Specialists, on Monday, 10 August 2015, at IPB International Convention Center (IICC), Bogor. The activity was participated by disaster experts of IPB, and was officially opened by the Director of LPPM IPB, Dr Prastowo.
The Head of Centre for Disaster Studies of IPB, Prof. Euis Sunarti stated "Indonesia is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, accordingly the country is known as the ‘disasters laboratory’. The increasing intensity of disasters requires effective countermeasures which is obtainable through the development of science and technology. Disaster risk reduction being a multi?disciplinary subject needs a combination of theory and practice. Thus, higher education institution, university, is considered as one of the key mainstreaming tools for this subject. To cope with the disaster the academic IPB should go beyond the traditional boundaries of the school and/or university compound for good disaster preparedness and emergency response and communicate more with the communities, and learn from their experiences through university’ Tridarma".
The Director of LPPM IPB, Dr Prastowo, stated "disaster in Indonesia should continue to be anticipated and carried countermeasures and prevention. When an area suffered natural disasters, the impact of those disasters on agriculture need immediate rehabilitation. In addition in providing food aid, and social services (compensation), as well as the recovery of agricultural land required by the community, however the stronger role of IPB in the Disaster Risk Management is assisting the development program. This is the area where the expertise of IPB is really required ".
Some samples of IPB experts’ contribution in providing solutions to the problems of disaster are as follows: disaster risk analysis; the assessment of damages and losses of disasters and the determination of rehabilitation and reconstruction needs in the aftermath; psychosocial and economic recovery of disaster victims; promoting a common consensus around the building of safe and resilient communities; disaster management in the agricultural sector; the disruption to development program.
On this special occasion the OC set a group discussion on three issues, namely the social and economic aspects, hydrometeorology disasters and climate change, as well as agriculture-related disaster and food security. (Wied)
