Faculty of Geography Universitas Gadjah Mada hosted an annual consortium entitled Centers for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD) which was held from November 20 until 24, 2017 in Kuta, Bali. CNRD is a network of universities in the world which promotes academic exchange and cooperation on natural resources management, particularly water, land, ecosystem, and renewable energy. The network aims to give contributions to Post-2015 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This consortium was attended by as many as 20 universities from four continents in the world.
Dean of Faculty of Geography UGM, Prof. Dr. Muh Aris Marfai, S.Si., M.Sc., said Faculty of Geography UGM has been involved in CNRD since 2009. Aris said through this involvement, UGM has been participating in various research activities and cross-border education.
The meeting which was attended by 37 participants from 19 countries discussed annual collaborative agenda, including student exchange, enhancement of didactic learning capacity, developing curriculum and learning module as well as collaborative e-learning. In addition, the meeting discussed collaborative research projects, including research workshop, research database based on watershed, as well as science and policy workshop.
“Those agendas will be held every year in various countries which are the members of CNRD consortium,” said Aris on Monday (27/11).
The topics discussed in CNRD consortium were sustainable natural resources management, including Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Nexus Energy-Water-Food as well as Resources Efficient Cities.
On the occasion, Faculty of Geography invited Center for Marine Research and Observation as one of the stakeholders in marine resources management in Indonesia. Several international institution representatives also attended this event, including the representatives from Global Water System Project (GWSP), IUCN Senior Programme Coordinator Disaster Risk Reduction, Head of UNEP’s Environmental Education and Training Unit (EETU), Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction at the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP, as well as IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, University of Lausanne, Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, Switzerland.
This consortium also held a field trip to Serangan Island, Tahura Mangrove Forest, and Pandawa Beach in order to provide examples of natural resources management in Bali Island in various sectors. By joining this consortium, Faculty of Geography UGM is expected to develop a broader network and cross-continental cooperation in education and research sectors.