Fabrizio Cascetta, Innovation Intern
Seeds of Change: from Disaster to Resilience
In Bunikasih, Indonesia, a small village of 200 people located upstream of Cipunagara Watershed, the biggest watershed in Subang Region, West Java, the bond between nature and human life is profound. The village plays a crucial role in the region, serving as a guardian of water catchments and the watershed that sustains life. The local economy and daily life revolve around the forest, which serves as both a vital water source and a means of socio-economic sustenance. However, to maintain this balance, critical needs must be addressed. The villagers lack access to electricity, and the local economy is marked by uncertainty and instability. Given the forest’s central role as a source of livelihood, fluctuating economic conditions can lead to resource depletion and environmental degradation.
Over the past thirty years in West Java Province, the forest's total coverage has diminished by 26%, thus affecting the Cipunagara watershed forest area, resulting in increased instability, natural disasters such as landslides and floods, and significant environmental damage. These challenges have exacerbated poverty and vulnerability among the villagers, with catastrophic events becoming a natural consequence of this degradation. In 2021, for instance, floods in Subang displaced nearly 40,000 people across 21 sub-districts throughout the region.
In response to these challenges, Yayasan Inara, one of the Tadamon Accelerator participants and grant awardees, has been working diligently to reduce inequalities and preserve the region’s ecosystem.
Participants of Yayasan Inara´s project
The participation in Tadamon Accelerator has been outstanding, providing $20,000 in funding and essential training and resources crucial for the success of Yayasan Inara initiatives. Ravinska Azura, Project Manager at Yayasan Inara, highlights the support they received from the Accelerator: “The intensive training and funding provided have been instrumental in bringing to life activities that had not been realized in our older projects but are essential for our mission. These activities have already started showing positive impacts in our community.” Ravinska also notes that the Tadamon Accelerator’s contribution extends beyond financial aid: “We were also able to expand our reach, engage more participants, and increase the overall impact of our initiatives.” In addition to the grant, Yayasan Inara mobilized over $233,000 and collaborated with more than 15 partners to advance the project.
Fostering Local Economy
Thanks to the grant received from the Tadamon Accelerator, Yayasan Inara has implemented a project that addresses multifaceted problems using a holistic approach. The project´s two main objectives are promoting Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) and reforesting degraded areas of the forest. This is achieved through a series of targeted actions.
To prevent timber exploitation, Yayasan Inara introduced the villagers to the palm sugar market. This initiative is supported by a micro-hydro power plant, which reduces production costs and minimizes CO2 emissions. In addition to the population benefitting from a stable income through palm sugar production, Yayasan Inara has also launched a reforestation program, planting only endemic species on previously damaged land, thereby enhancing biodiversity and ecological resilience. However, these efforts are only sustainable with the ongoing education and training of the local community. Therefore, the organization provides training in financial management, agriculture, and disaster resilience, enabling the villagers to lead more stable and sustainable lives.
Training sessions
Thanks to the training provided by Yayasan Inara, the villagers are witnessing daily
improvements in their lives. “I have benefited from this program, especially in processing palm sugar. Now, I can contribute to my family’s economy with a more stable and improved income” says Eem, reflecting on the impact of the project.
Transforming Bunikasih
This project has brought about substantial positive change in the community, advancing key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and delivering real benefits to the villagers of Bunikasih. By introducing Arenga Palm Sugar production, the initiative has opened up new income opportunities, playing a direct role in alleviating poverty within the village. Eem, a beneficiary of the project, shares, “I have experienced the benefits of this program, especially in the processing of palm sugar. Now, I can contribute to my family’s economy with a more stable and better income.”
Additionally, the introduction of a micro-hydro power plant has transformed daily life by providing consistent and sustainable electricity, empowering residents to improve their businesses and access education, thereby raising their overall quality of life. Ramdan, a villager, remarks, “Since we have electricity from the micro-hydro power plant, life in our village has improved. We can now use electricity for businesses and education, making life easier.”
Yayasan Inara team
The project’s commitment to environmental sustainability is also evident in its reforestation efforts and sustainable land management practices. By replanting endemic species and restoring degraded lands, the community is actively contributing to climate action and biodiversity preservation, ensuring a healthier ecosystem for future generations. These collective achievements highlight the project’s pivotal role in fostering a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future for the village of Bunikasih.
These contributions show how keen Yayasan Inara is to create a sustainable and equitable future for the Bunikasih village and the broader Cipunagara Watershed region. Yayasan Inara is the perfect example that shows that sometimes challenges seem too big to be handled, but step by step, tackling the problem from different sides, and most importantly, involving other people, we can do everything!
Learn more about Yayasan Inara´s work and support them.