64 Co-engaged Lear ning Pra ctices for Equi ty, Livelih oods and Devel opme nt RCE Yogyakarta: Traditional Knowledge on the Use and Conservation of Pandanus Retno Widiastuti Ludmila Fitri Untari Sutanti Budi Rahayu Ima Rahima Slamet Widiyanto Puji Astuti RCE Yogyakarta RCE Yogyakarta is administratively based in a Special Region of Java island called Yogyakarta. From the time of its establishment RCE Yogyakarta has had a vision to play the role as a centre which cares and proactively engages in sustainable development challenges in the region. RCE Yogyakarta develops concepts and technologies that support sustainable development. It implements them at and with local communities through: appropriate education in the field of sustainable development (SD) through formal, non-formal and informal education; sharing information, increasing awareness, providing space for learning and action as well as community mobilisation towards establishing a nation with more sustainable future; and actively involving and playing roles in national and international networking to share and collaborate in education for sustainable development (ESD). The initial establishment of RCE Yogyakarta started as a response to the earthquake in 2006 with an aim of rehabilitation of disaster victims. At the same time it was also designed to respond to illiteracy challenges in local communities, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to work in line with university commitments for a green campus and renewable energy. Now the focus of RCE Yogyakarta has expanded to include other problems related to the region, such as the development of a green city, restoration of coastal land, disaster management and rehabilitation (DERU), zero waste agriculture, and capacity building among youth, among others. RCE Yogyakarta has a slogan, “Together with Community, Promoting Changes towards Sustainable Development through Education”. Apart from Gadjah Mada University, State University of Yogyakarta, a local school Pondok pesantren Nurul Ummah and NGOs such as Komunitas masyarakat Code Utara, Lembaga Lestari, Yayasan Satu Nama, Pesantren Budaya Ilmu Giri, Yayasan Dian Desa Yogyakarta, Rumah Budaya tembi Yogyakarta, and SHEEP Yogyakarta are the members of RCE. Eko Agus Suyono Introduction There are many traditional knowledge practices related to natural fibers in Indonesia. One is the use of the natural fiber sources from pandanus. The pandanus species consist of Pandanus tectorius, P. silvestries and P terrestris. Their local names are Pandanus Sea (Sunda); Pandanus Palm (Maluku); Pandanus Ponelo (Gorontalo); and Pandanus Ash (Sumatera). These species have been part of weaving and knitting traditions for generations. This tradition was originally used to complement traditional ceremonies. Pandanus generally grows around coastal forest. It is limp but tough, long, easily coloured, easily woven, and can be found in almost every area in Indonesia. The products made from it are not only for mat-woven materials, but also fashionable hats, handbags, chairs, laundry boxes, pillowcases, curtains and others. The tradition of weaving with Pandanus fibers usually can be found in coastal areas of Indonesia using simple technologies and mostly passed on from generation to generation. The tradition is also found in Kemadang village, Gunung kidul, Yogyakarta, a village which has the great potential of raw material from Pandan. Kemadang is a region within the southern area of Gunung Kidul district in which most of the people rely on fishery, agriculture and tourisms. The economic development in this area is still conventional and needs further innovation to increase local incomes. Pandanus is one of the raw materials to be developed further. The materials have been processed into various kinds of handicrafts, however this tradition tends to be declining as there is less community commitment to transferring the knowledge to future generations and there are limited conservation activities to preserve its biodiversity. Therefore, some activities were delivered by the Faculty of Forestry and Faculty of Biology, Gadjah Mada University on behalf of RCE Yogyakarta in order to overcome those problems. The activities are mainly conducted through the Student Community Services – Community Empowerment Learning (SCS-CEL) programme, a mandatory subject for final year undergraduate students. 8
Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity
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