PRESS RELEASE

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA TEAM OF THE 10^TH WORLD WATER FORUM

NO.107/SP/TKM-WORLDWATERFORUM2024/05/2024

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Investment in Knowledge Needed to Create Sustainable Water Management

Investment in human resources and knowledge are essential to ensure the good quality and sustainability of the tourism sector. This includes water resources and sanitation management.

This was stated by the Director General for Culture, Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Hilmar Farid at the 10^th World Water Forum Media Center, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Monday, 21 May.

“Investment in the infrastructure sector is important, but investing in knowledge, research, and preservation of local knowledge is much more important. If they are neglected, they will be eroded,” he said.

According to the UN World Water Development Report 2024, Hilmar said, around 2.2 billion people did not have access to drinking water in 2022. In addition, 1.4 billion people were affected by drought from 2002 to 2021. Furthermore, 10% of global migration between 1970 and 2000 occurred due to water shortages. Therefore, Indonesia is the right country to host the 10^th World Water Forum by showing various good practices that have been carried out for generations.

“We have a trove of local knowledge based on preservation and sustainability. It can provide concrete solutions if it is combined with science and technology,” he said

According to Hilmar, Indonesia is also the world’s spice center. There is a spice route, namely a traditional shipping route that stretches between the Pacific region in the East and the East coast of Africa in the West.

For more than a thousand years, the people along this route have interacted, producing a remarkable legacy of knowledge regarding the management of water-related life.

“There is an extraordinary trove of knowledge which can inspire us today. At the 10^th World Water Forum, we can see how important culture has been in our global system for a long time,” he said.

Moreover, Bali as the host has subak, an important water management system for the community. At the heart of the system, there is the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, namely harmony between the elements of parahyangan (God), pawongan (humans), and palemahan (environment).

“From this Balinese local wisdom, downstream communities can reap the benefits of sustainable water management. The upstream communities provide support to downstream communities. The solidarity system that is built can be projected to the present time with the support of science and technology. Modern technology can become the answer to some of the problems that need sensible and sustainable water management," he said.

He added regional governments play a role in ensuring that the good ideas and local wisdom contributing to water management can continue.

"In the Cultural Heritage Law, the regional government has the authority to determine whether a site or building is a cultural heritage area," he said.

Therefore, he underscored regional governments are the key in their regions to determine many things related to local wisdom that contribute to water resources management. (TR/Elvira Inda Sari/EL/Flo)

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For further information, please contact:

Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320)

PCO of the 10^TH World Water Forum - Dede Ariwibowo (08111830020)