A community-based approach to riverine management of the Kali Pepe in Surakarta

Abstract

Most urban villages in Surakarta are situated in the riverine area. These villages experience the effects of urbanization. One of the most significant negative effects of urbanization in the riverine area of Kali Pepe is the environmental degradation of its ecosystem. This problem raises many issues, physical as well as social and economic. Therefore, urban villages need high levels of community resilience, which refers to the capacity of a community to resist various risks through specific management and adoption of good practices. This study focuses on community initiatives. These initiatives symbolize the endeavor to perceive, interact, or even adapt to the river's condition. In Surakarta, there are various community initiatives such as Forum Solo Hijau, Ngerekso Lapen, SIBAT (which refers to Community-Based Disaster Preparedness) at the neighborhood scale in the urban villages of Sewu and Sangkrah. This research aims to identify the communities' initiatives in the riverine area of Kali Pepe, Surakarta and understand how the local communities interact with the river. This research used the field research approach for data collection comprising in-depth interviews with local leaders and community representatives. This research used a qualitative-typological approach by analyzing the (1) formation process, (2) the role of actors, and (3) the aims of each community's endeavor. The findings of this research provide a new perspective for understanding how communities experience the rivers and provide a guideline on how community initiatives can contribute to the sustainability of the river.