UNS – Three students from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands, are collaborating with the Urban-Rural Design and Conservation (URDC) Laboratory of the Architecture Program, Faculty of Engineering (FT), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), Surakarta. The collaboration aims to enhance environmental sustainability in Surakarta through various initiatives.

The students, Pleun de Vries, Niels Baars, and Thomas Riewert Wierenga, all third-year students of the Water Management and Spatial Development program, initiated sustainable projects in Kelurahan Sumber (Urban Village), Kampung Kota Eks HP0001 Mojo, and Mojogedang District.

Pleun de Vries focused her research on organic rice farming and water contamination in Mojogedang, Karanganyar Regency. In her article, “Challenges in Organic Rice Cultivation as Cultural Landscape in Mojogedang, Karanganyar,” she highlighted pesticide usage by upstream farmers as a major obstacle for downstream organic farmers.

“The pesticide use by upstream farmers contaminates irrigation water, which hampers organic farming downstream and prevents certification. I collaborated with Mr. Mazlan, a Ph.D. candidate from the Chemistry Department, and Mr. Ari, a lecturer from the Faculty of Agriculture, to develop a water filtration system. We are also working with local governments to create policies regulating pesticide use,” Pleun explained on Tuesday (17/12/2024).

Niels Baars explored the interaction between humans and nature along the Kali Pepe River in Kampung Sumber. His article, “Re-naturalization of River Bank Settlement of Kali Pepe River Surakarta,” combined theoretical and practical analyses to propose sustainable urban riverbank designs. Niels emphasized the importance of post-implementation maintenance to ensure the long-term success of the project.

“Collaborating with the project team from the Department of Architecture, I contributed to developing a master plan to redesign the riverbanks. By incorporating vegetation, this design aims to improve water quality, reduce flood risks, prevent waste disposal, and create spaces that encourage interaction between the community and nature. Collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Sumber River Care Community (KPS Sumber), local residents, and Arifa Ummiyati, Head of Sumber Subdistrict, Banjarsari District, Surakarta City, as well as the Bengawan Solo River Basin Authority (BBWS Solo), was crucial in the development of this project,” Niels explained.

In Kampung Kota Eks HP0001 Mojo, Thomas Riewert Wierenga focused on improving livability through participatory and sustainable design strategies. Together with UNS students, he developed a “Green Map” to engage local communities in climate-positive actions.

“We proposed solutions such as multifunctional green spaces, waste management initiatives, and safe play areas for children. We also collaborated with the community to create public art installations to raise environmental awareness,” Thomas shared.

Over four months, the Dutch students and URDC FT UNS worked together to address environmental and community challenges in Surakarta. They emphasized the importance of stakeholder support to ensure project sustainability.

“My internship at the URDC Laboratory and UNS has been an unforgettable journey. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work closely with farmers and local communities. The event in Mojogedang, particularly the discussions with farmers, provided invaluable insights for my research. I also gained new skills, such as writing review articles and integrating modern solutions with traditional practices. I hope the projects we initiated can be implemented, the farmers educated, and the government pays greater attention to these efforts,” Pleun said.

Thomas also shared that his internship experience with URDC UNS taught him how collaboration across different groups can lead to innovative and long-term impactful solutions. He noted that the culture of Surakarta and the resilience of its communities have inspired him to continue creating innovative solutions that prioritize people and the environment. He expressed his hope that the government would give more attention to the sustainability of community livelihoods, particularly in Kampung Kota.

Neils expressed his deep gratitude to Dr. Eng. Kusumaningdyah Nurul Handayani, S.T., M.T., for her guidance and support during his internship at URDC FT UNS. “Working with communities and stakeholders, as well as writing articles, has been an invaluable experience. This journey has truly been a life-changing opportunity for me. I hope this program will strengthen the harmony between the environment and society. I look forward to the chance to return to Indonesia in the future,” he said.

The collaboration between URDC and the three Dutch students aims to mitigate climate change’s impacts, enhance resilience to climate-related challenges and disasters, and promote the sustainable protection, restoration, and management of terrestrial ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, and soil. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 13, “Climate Action,” and Goal 15, “Life on Land.”

HUMAS UNS