COPING MECHANISM IN THE FACE OF LANDSLIDE HAZARD IN EAST JAVA INDONESIA

Abstract

Increasing the number of landslide disasters and their effecting population in Indonesia is crucial to concern and need a solution. A coping mechanism is the strategies of people exposed to disasters and a key to anticipate and prepare and reduce landslide disaster risk. During twenty years, Malang Regency in East Java Province was hit by several landslide disasters, which radically affected both the physical and social environment. This paper aims to investigate coping strategie s by communities facing landslide disaster. The methodology used in this research was divided into three sections: (1) pre-field; (2) fieldwork; and (3) post-field. The survey was initially conducted by mapping physical condition and interview with the key of informants. The research result was analyzed utilizing recorded-transcribed interviews and interpreted according to recurrent themes in the answers. Generally, people have performed different strategies to cope with landslide disasters withi n the study area. The coping mechanisms have been well developing into two categories, such as individual and structural coping mechanisms. This case study indicates that a coping strategy should be taken to reduce landslide disaster risks, such as fostering agriculture protection, properties-housing protection, and reinforcing risk governance to improve landslide disaster management and programs fostering adaptation and resilience.