Perceptions of Owners on the Roles and Future of Bamboo-Tree Gardens in the Agricultural Landscape of the Upper Citarum Basin, West Java-Indonesia

We studied human perceptions on the management of bamboo-tree gardens in two villages with contrasting agroecological conditions in the upper Citarum basin. We undertook interviews to reveal perceptions on the tenure, function, and management strategies of multi-layered agroforest. Owners in a village located lower in the basin perceived the gardens more positively than those in an upland village, where market pressures were felt more keenly and for a longer period. There was not always a direct correlation between perceptions and behavior with respect to bamboo-tree garden management. However, we concluded that an understanding of human perceptions could provide valuable insight to the process of formulating strategies that might be effective in minimizing the conversion of bamboo-tree gardens to more intensive and less ecologically diverse agricultural systems. Specifically, since the villagers retained a strong cultural perception of the heritage value of the bamboo-tree gardens, they would likely be responsive to conservation efforts that increased the economic value of the gardens and reduced the opportunity cost of not converting them to production that is more intensive or other land uses.

Analysis of Ecotourism, Culture and Local Community Empower­ment: Case Study of Wasur National Park - Indonesia

The focus of this research lies in community empowerment based on culture and local communities as well as sustainable ecotourism,which is directed at a complicated mechanism of empowerment elements,local culture that is thick in ecotourism to get added value for the novelty of ecotourism research.The object of research is Wasur National Park(WNP),Papua,Indonesia.Qualitative methods have been used to obtain accurate data and information,i.e.,in-depth interviews with indigenous people to find out the benefits or functions of their culture that can be developed in ecotourism,interviews with leaders and staff of WNP and the Department of Culture and Tourism to find out the potential and processes empowerment and existing tourism potential.As a result,from the perspective of empowerment,local people will easily follow the empowerment process provided that they use methods that are culturally appropriate which is from the viewpoints from the culture of sasi,totem and sacred places.The culture adopted by the community is in accordance with the principles of ecotourism that supports sustainability,environmental conservation,protection of environmental resources and increases economic value.However,it is recommended to carry out modified socialization in accordance with the current conditions.Hence,tourists who visit WNP do not become afraid of the very rigid sanctions which are applied to them who violate the existing cultural and environmental customs.Moreover,to get added economic value in the tourism business within WNP,it is necessary to explore the potential of cultural wealth,natural and biological wealth so that it becomes the main attraction in carrying out the economic empowerment of local communities in the field of ecotourism.

Between food fulfillment and income:Can urban agriculture contribute to both?

Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)is appealing for a global implementation of urban agricultural strate-gies to increase food availability.Bandung,a city in Indonesia,is already participating in this initiative.This research aimed to assess the contribution of urban agriculture toward household food fulfillment and income.Furthermore,the impacts on urban,subsistence,semi-commercial,and commercial agriculture were considered.In-depth interviews to obtain qualitative data and observations were also utilized.A survey of 321 households,consisting of 107 for each urban agricultural type,used questionnaires to obtain quantitative data.These inputs were further analyzed to determine the contribution of household food fulfillment and income.The results showed that average urban agriculture has an insignificant and significant contribution of 9%and 41.5%to household food fulfillment and income.This was due to the vast complexities of metropolitan problems,including limited access to land,lack of participation,dependence on on-market products,and increasing commercialization which opposed urban agricultural policies。

A pattern for partnership between LMDH and Perhutani to enhance local community prosperity and preserve the forest:a case study at RPH Besowo,Kediri Regency,Indonesia

The deforestation in Indonesia is already alarming.One of the strategies used by the government to overcome forest deforestation is social forestry.This program is called PHBM(Pengelolaan Hutan Bersama Masyarakat/Joint Forest Management) which is basically a partnership program.This study aims at describing the partnership program between a local organization(i.e.LMDH) and a government unit(i.e.RPH of Perhutani) within the PHBM program.The objectives of this study are to(a) describe the model of partnerships between LMDH and RPH Besowo for sustainable forest management and local community empowerment;(b) determine the contribution of the forest to the national economy and rural household income;and(c) determine the obstacles commonly found in Besowo forest that have to be faced during the implementation of the partnerships.The study shows that with good partnership between these two units,the prosperity of the local community can be enhanced and the forest preservation can be maintained.The model of the partnerships in this particular area in Indonesia is expected to be applicable as well in other rural areas in Indonesia,as well as in other developing countries.

Economic evaluation of the hepatitis C elimination strategy in Greece in the era of affordable direct-acting antivirals

BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus(HCV) is a leading cause of worldwide liver-related morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization released an integrated strategy targeting HCV-elimination by 2030. This study aims to estimate the required interventions to achieve elimination using updated information for direct-acting antiviral(DAA) treatment coverage, to compute the total costs(including indirect/societal costs) of the strategy and to identify whether the elimination strategy is cost-effective/cost-saving in Greece.AIM To estimate the required interventions and subsequent costs to achieve HCV elimination in Greece.METHODS A previously validated mathematical model was adapted to the Greek HCVinfected population to compare the outcomes of DAA treatment without the additional implementation of awareness or screening campaigns versus an HCV elimination strategy, which includes a sufficient number of treated patients. We estimated the total costs(direct and indirect costs), the disability-adjusted life years and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio using two different price scenarios.RESULTS Without the implementation of awareness or screening campaigns,approximately 20000 patients would be diagnosed and treated with DAAs by2030. This strategy would result in a 19.6% increase in HCV-related mortality in2030 compared to 2015. To achieve the elimination goal, 90000 patients need to be treated by 2030. Under the elimination scenario, viremic cases would decrease by78.8% in 2030 compared to 2015. The cumulative direct costs to eliminate the disease would range from 2.1-2.3 billion euros(€) by 2030, while the indirect costs would be €1.1 billion. The total elimination cost in Greece would range from €3.2-3.4 billion by 2030. The cost per averted disability-adjusted life year is estimated between €10100 and €13380, indicating that the elimination strategy is very costeffective. Furthermore, HCV elimination strategy would save €560-895 million by2035.CONCLUSION Without large screening programs, elimination of HCV cannot be achieved. The HCV elimination strategy is feasible and cost-saving despite the uncertainty of the future cost of DAAs in Greece.

Contribution of Sumalindo Company:In Managing Forest Resources with Local Communities:Mahakam Ulu-East Kalimantan

The role of HPH(Forest Logging Concession)in developing rural communities is very significant.SLJ(Sumalindo Lestari Jaya)as HPH company has an important contribution in empowering local communities,especially in opening land transportation in the interior and helping to build agriculture and gardens.The existence of Sumalindo company participates in developing forest resource management with local communities,among others,increasing livelihoods,maintaining and developing biodiversity conservation and maintaining climate change.These efforts are in accordance with the regulations of the KLHK(Ministry of Environment and Forestry),that every HPH holder is required(mandatory)to obtain a certificate of“PHAPL”(Sustainable Production Natural Forest Management)and an“eco label”from the Indonesian Eco Label Institute.Besides,it is recommended that the holders of HPH concessions and HTI(Industrial Timber Plantations)have an FSC(Forest Stewardship Council)certificate from the EU(European Union),and must meet three indicator elements,namely economic,social and ecological in SFM(Sustainable Forest Management).This article examines three critical questions that show the role of Sumalindo Company in economic,ecological and social development and managing forest resources with the community as follows:(1)The role of Sumalindo company contributes to the development of road infrastructure in the interior;(2)The role of Sumalindo in improving livelihoods and economic and social empowerment of local communities;(3)The role of Sumalindo with local communities in managing forest resources,including maintaining and developing biodiversity conservation and maintaining climate change.

Peer pressure and academic stress among junior high school students:a cross-sectional study

Objective:The objective of the study was to explore the connection between peer pressure and academic stress among junior high school students.Methods:This descriptive correlational study was conducted to investigate the link between perceived peer pressure and academic stress.The study involved a total of 525 adolescents,aged 14-19 years,drawn from 6 public junior high schools(PJHS)in Padang,Indonesia,using purposive sampling.Academic stress and perceived peer pressure were assessed using the Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents(ESSA)and the Perceived Peer Pressure Scale(PPPS).Results:The findings indicated significant variations in stress levels among students in different grade levels(7th,8th,and 9th grades)(P<0.05),while there were no noteworthy differences in peer pressure across these grade levels(P>0.05).Additionally,there was a positive correlation observed between perceived peer pressure and academic stress(r=0.14,P<0.05).Furthermore,multiple regression analyses,incorporating demographic variables and perceived peer pressure as independent factors,yielded statistically significant results(adjusted R^(2)=0.082,F=4.33,P<0.001).Notably,peer pressure had a direct impact on academic stress among adolescents,with class level and parents’educational background mediating the relationship between academic stress and adolescent behavioral problems.Conclusions:These findings underscore the importance of addressing both external and internal factors at the individual,family,school,and societal levels to enhance adolescents’psychological resilience and mitigate problem behaviors.

The Catastrophe of Corruption in the Sustainability of Foreign aid:A Prediction of Artificial Neural Network Method in Indonesia

The rising corruption levels in Indonesia are becoming a cause for concern and raise doubts about their impact on the stability of foreign aid in the country.Therefore,this study aims to predict the long-term viability of foreign aid in Indonesia based on international perceptions of corruption and corruption cases in the country.Data were obtained from World Governance Indicators,the Indonesian Ministry of Finance,and the World Bank,and the study used a backpropagation artificial neural network(ANN)for prediction.The results from ANN are compared to linear models and vector autoregression(VAR).The finding shows that ANN outperforms the other models based on the coefficient of determination and MSE values.Furthermore,it highlights the strong relationship between corruption perception and foreign aid sustainability with an R-value of 0.991.According to the ANN estimation,gratification has a significant impact on foreign aid.In response to this finding,the study recommends the Indonesian government take action to combat corruption in maintaining the international trust and ensuring the stability of foreign aid.