Research Center for Politics and Government (PolGov), Department of Politics and Government UGM organized the annual training of The Asia Pacific Hub (ASPACHUB) on natural resource management. The theme chosen in this year’s training is ‘Advancing Accoutable Resource Governance in Asia Pacific 2018’.
This training is a collaboration of PolGov DPP UGM and Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI).
There are 28 participants from Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines, United States, United Kingdom, and Vietnam who attended the event. They came from various backgrounds, ranging from government agencies, NGO activists and practitioners from extractive industries. This event is the fifth year.
For the first time this training was held in Belitung Island. As in previous years, this training is not only done in the classroom but also invites participants to the field to see directly the problems and management of natural resources. Participants not only visiting the location of the former tin mining but also discussing with the local government.
On Monday, January 15, 2018, participants discussed with the local government how to manage the natural resources in the area. The discussion was attended by East Belitung District Secretary, Mr. Ikhwan Fahrozi; Assistant for Economic and Development Sector of Belitung Regency, Mr. Jasagung Hariyadi; representative of the Provincial Energy and Mineral Resources Office, Mr. Harli Agusta; vice dean of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM, Mrs. Poppy S. Winanti and Dean of Fisipol University of Bangka Belitung Dr Ibrahim.
“We chose Belitung because based on our research results, Belitung became a mining area that began to develop into a tourist destination, we want to learn it from Belitung,” explained Poppy S. Winanti, Vice Dean of Fisipol.
The event was also attended by a number of businessmen from mining, plantation and tourism sector in Babylon; and representatives of community organizations in Belitung.
On this occasion, the local government explained the follow-up plan for Belitung development after mining activities. They explained that Belitung Island is currently developing sustainable ecotourism. “We are aware that the mine will run out, so we are trying to develop an environmentally friendly tourism sector,” said Ikhwan Fahrozi, Secretary of East Timor.
This discussion is very useful for participants because it has given examples of post-mining area management dynamics in Indonesia, especially in Belitung.
This activity is expected not only to be a forum for knowledge sharing and skills but also to be a good vehicle for PolGov DPP and other stakeholders to actively engage in the promotion of sustainable regional development in Asia-Pacific. (MH)