JAKARTA ——- Dompet Dhuafa’s Disaster Management Center (DMC) inaugurated five Ciliwung River bases and held Tarhib Ramadhan at the five Ciliwung River bases on Thursday (03/31/2022).
The event, which included a Ciliwung River rafting trip and the inauguration of a library, reflects DMC Dompet Dhuafa’s commitment to improving literacy about environmental awareness and disaster risk reduction efforts.
“We need to cultivate new generations to protect nature. We can learn from water, which lives by giving benefits,” said Ust. Ahmad Shonhaji, Director of Da’wah, Culture, and Community Service at Dompet Dhuafa.
The intervention programs carried out by DMC Dompet Dhuafa include assisting in the construction of Trab Terasering, Pangkalan Pier, and MCK sanitation facilities in Saung Bambon Riverside (Srengseng Sawah), KPC Kedung Sahong (Lenteng Agung), Ciwilung Muara Bersama – CMB (Tanjung Barat), Padepokan Ciliwung Condet – PCC (Balekambang), and Kometa (Balekambang).
“The word ‘river’ in the Qur’an has three major clusters of usage. First, it is related to heaven. There is a verse that describes heaven with the phrase ‘rivers flowing beneath it’. Second, it is about the majesty of Allah’s creation, how rivers were created. The third is about the dangers of excessive rainwater in rivers,“ explained Haryo Mojopahit, Chief Executive of DMC Dompet Dhuafa.
”The third point emphasizes that if we do not protect the rain and preserve the rivers, we will be destroyed by floods and landslides,” continued Haryo.
According to the 2001 watershed use interpretation map in Kuswadi’s (2002) research, the forest area in the Upper Ciliwung sub-watershed decreased by 16.62% from 1999 to 2001.
This decline was followed by an increase in land use conversion for settlements, plantations, and upland agriculture. The reduction in water catchment areas due to deforestation and land conversion has resulted in water being unable to seep into the ground and instead flowing rapidly down the Ciliwung river from upstream to downstream. The Ciliwung watershed in the upstream area is not very wide, and this is exacerbated by narrowing due to development.
During the rainy season, this condition can cause rainwater to overflow into the surrounding areas, causing flooding and landslides in the upstream area.
The opposite will also occur during the dry season. Water that is not absorbed and stored in the soil will cause a decrease in river discharge, which will result in crop failure and difficulties for residents in obtaining clean water.
Against this backdrop, Dompet Dhuafa’s Disaster Management Center (DMC) presented the “Program for Empowerment and Utilization of Resources Based on Watershed Management in Ciliwung River.” This activity focuses on community groups living around the Ciliwung River watershed, which will be used as a pilot project.
“This is a remarkable event. Five bases have been inaugurated. Hopefully, this program will continue to grow. This is also in line with the Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency’s (BPBD DKI Jakarta) focus on community empowerment for ecotourism and edutourism,” explained Basuki Rakhmat, Head of the Community and Institutional Empowerment Section of BPBD DKI Jakarta, in his speech.
This program is an activity that combines environmental conservation elements through direct environmental improvement actions.
In addition, DMC Dompet Dhuafa also conducts educational programs on environmental conservation, community empowerment and development so that they are able to carry out activities or even utilize the surrounding environment to increase their income without damaging the function of the watershed.
“We are very grateful and thankful to DMC Dompet Dhuafa for empowering the community. With the construction of facilities to prevent landslides and the development of sanitation facilities,” concluded Asdat Zen, Coordinator of Saung Bambon. (Dompet Dhuafa / DMC)