Rajendra Prasad Shrestha

Aims: This study aimed to develop an approach for disaster risk reduction in urban communities of the indigenous community in Kampung Kuta, West Java, to enhance disaster literacy. The primary issue addressed was the insufficient integration of traditional knowledge into formal disaster education, limiting the effectiveness of disaster preparedness in local communities. Methodology and Results: The study highlighted the inadequate integration of traditional knowledge into formal disaster mitigation, hampering the effectiveness of disaster preparedness in indigenous communities. A qualitative approach was employed, involving interviews, observations, and focus group discussions (FGDs) with local indigenous leaders and community members. The results reveal that Kampung Kuta's indigenous knowledge offers valuable practices for disaster mitigation, such as environmental management and communal responsibility, which could be integrated into formal mitigation frameworks. Transforming these traditions into resilience learning strategies could significantly enhance disaster literacy, fostering greater awareness and resilience within the community. The novelty of this research lies in the fusion of traditional and modern educational strategies, creating culturally relevant disaster education approaches that preserve indigenous knowledge and enhance its application in contemporary disaster management. Conclusion, Significance, and Impact: This strategy provides a viable model for other regions with strong traditions of local wisdom, contributing to the global discourse on integrating indigenous practices into disaster risk reduction (DRR) frameworks, especially in areas prone to natural disasters.

The phenomenon of climate change has been observed in Aceh, Indonesia. However, no study has specifically examined high school students' conceptual knowledge, adaptation strategies, and mitigation measures related to climate change in the region. This study aims to assess students' conceptual knowledge, adaptation strategies, and mitigation efforts related to climate change in Aceh, while investigating how these factors are influenced by gender, grade level, geographical landscape, and implementation of green school programs (Adiwivata). A sample of 410 students was taken from a total population of 137,283. Data were collected using online questionnaires distributed by teachers and analyzed using descriptive statistics, PCA, and ANOVA. The results of the study show that students' knowledge, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change in Aceh are generally inadequate. This is because the current framework and implementation of climate change education have not effectively achieved the goals of increasing knowledge, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change at the secondary school level. Gender was found to affect Knowledge I, while grade level influenced Mitigation III. The geographic landscape impacts Mitigation I and II. Green school programs have been shown to have a positive effect on Knowledge I, Adaptation I, and all components of climate change mitigation. These results show the need for expanded efforts to improve climate change knowledge, adaptation, and mitigation among high school students in Aceh, through education policies that encourage teachers to implement learning about climate change in a continuous, detailed, and innovative manner.

Groundwater pollution in landfill-adjacent regions presents a critical environmental and public health issue. This study evaluates groundwater quality in Xiangyang City, focusing on drinking water sources and key pollution points near landfill sites. The investigation involved a comprehensive field survey, systematic sampling, and laboratory analysis to determine pollutant types, sources, and concentrations. A total of 13 landfill sites were examined, with 178 groundwater samples analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological indicators during both wet and dry seasons. The findings reveal that 27.0% of groundwater samples meet Class I standards, while 46.1% and 27.0% fall into Class IV and V categories, respectively, indicating a significant prevalence of poor-quality groundwater. Seasonal variations were observed, with both wet and dry seasons showing consistent distributions of Class I, IV, and V samples. Heavy metals such as lead and arsenic, along with organic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls and pesticides (e.g., hexachlorobenzene), were significant contaminants in several sites. Key indicators such as nitrate, ammonia nitrogen, manganese, and total hardness consistently exceeded standard limits, with the most affected sites including L4 and L5 in Xiangyang. This study identifies leachate infiltration as the primary cause of pollution, exacerbated by geological and agricultural non-point sources. Based on these findings, a robust framework for monitoring and controlling groundwater pollution is proposed, emphasizing stricter regulations, advanced monitoring systems, and cross-regional coordination. The results underscore the urgency of immediate intervention to safeguard groundwater quality in landfill-adjacent regions.

The Semeru Volcano eruption on December 4, 2021 caused damage to social, economic and environmental aspects. The Rejali Watershed (DAS) is one of the areas severely affected due to the eruption. The eruption resulted in 51 deaths, 10,565 displaced people, 1,027 houses damaged, two connecting routes and 43 public facilities damaged. This study mapped the disaster risk areas due to the eruption of Semeru Volcano. This research used Laharz to analyze the lava flow hazard map and weighting for social, economic, physical, environmental, and capacity vulnerability parameters. The results showed that the risk level of Semeru Volcano eruption is divided into three classes: high, medium, and low risk. The high-risk area is 8915.09 Ha (14 %), the medium-risk area is 2174.74 Ha (17 %), and the low-risk area is 1885.60 Ha (69%). The high and medium risks were located on the upper and middle slopes of the Rejali watershed because the upstream area experiences a narrowing of the river flow (bottleneck) due to direct borders with structural land. The Semeru Volcano disaster risk map results can be used as a reference in sustainable risk management efforts in the Rejali watershed to reduce the impact and damage caused by the eruption.

Equipping students with proficient environmental problem-solving skills is critical in the 21st century to address pressing global problems. This research explores the effectiveness of Project-Based Learning (PjBL) combined with ecological intelligence as a strategy to increase students' cognitive understanding and environmental awareness. A quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group design was used. The participants were class XI IPS (Class XI IPS) students from SMA Negeri 1 Karangrejo (n = 5 classes). Purposive sampling resulted in an experimental class that was exposed to PjBL and a control class that followed traditional learning. Data collection was carried out through descriptive tests and observations that were validated and reliable. Two-way ANOVA analysis showed a significant positive effect (p less than 0.05) between PjBL and ecological intelligence on students' environmental problem solving abilities. Interestingly, no significant interaction effects (p greater than 0.05) were detected, indicating the potential dominance of the PjBL structured learning environment. These findings highlight the potential of PjBL as a pedagogical tool to foster environmental literacy and problem solving in geography education