Innovations in Disaster Resilience Studies in Coastal Areas and Small Islands of Gili Tramena

When we hear the name ‘three Gilis’ in North Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara, a vision of beautiful beaches might immediately spring to mind. Beaches any tourist would gladly wait in line for. However, disaster vulnerability on Gili Tramena (the name for the three islands, separately named Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno) is no less significant than in other coastal areas. Efforts to build resilience in the region are in a race against the rapid current of tourism, which many in the government and private sector rely on for income.

Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Analyst from the Subnational Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of North Lombok District, Agus Hery Purnomo, revealed that apart from being a coastal area, Gili Tramena’s vulnerability is also the result of a tendency to manage land to meet the needs of tourism. The sustainability aspect of the islands, for example regarding the need for space, may be overlooked because the islands are crowded with tourism infrastructure. ‘The clearest example is the high volume of waste, coupled with inadequate waste management. As a result, fires have become a frequent occurrence’, he said.

Fire disasters occur because some of the residents choose to burn accumulated rubbish themselves. The situation is made worse by the absence of a fire station on Gili Tramena, and several fire incidents ultimately have led to fatalities and destroyed nearby buildings.

Fire is one of the 5 priority disaster threats on Gili Tramena. The other 4 are abrasion, earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods. Abrasion occurs due to massive infrastructure development as a response to the large-scale tourism.Local Revenue (PAD) in North Lombok District mostly comes from the tourism sector on Gili Tramena, which contributed approximately 70% of the total PAD. This is one of the challenges in realising the concept of disaster preparedness on Gili Tramena. ‘For example, when we were trying to put up the tsunami signs, several parties would not let us, as they thought it would scare tourists. So, indeed, (the community) needs to be educated about disasters’, said Agus.

Agus explained that the BPBD of North Lombok District together with the SIAP SIAGA Program are taking steps in carrying out several activities to build preparedness and resilience on Gili Tramena. At the same time, this process is carried out at the district level, given that it is necessary to run campaigns on disaster-related understanding within the Local Government of North Lombok District.

‘Take for example, the environmental permit issuance process. This process is supposed to start with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal), followed by Environmental Management Efforts and Environmental Monitoring Efforts (UKL-UPL), which previously would involve BPBD. BPBD is no longer involved even though the disaster perspective, especially in the context of Gili Tramena is  necessary for preventing harmful land use that might increase the risk of disasters. The requirement for disaster standardisation should be adjusted according to the level of vulnerability. This is more homework for us in the district government’, said Agus.

Agus is grateful that currently several positive developments have begun to emerge. Regarding the threat of fire, for example, several volunteer firefighters are already stationed on the three Gilis. Several hotels are also providing access to their swimming pools for water supply in case a fire breaks out nearby. He is hoping that the process that is being undertaken currently together with the SIAP SIAGA Program can serve as a model for aligning economic interests and disaster resilience in coastal areas. In the future, the model will also be explored for other coastal areas in North Lombok District where the balance between nature and livelihoods is intertwined, such as Bayan and Kayangan Villages, where fish-farming activities are getting more and more common. ‘After all, many livelihoods depend on Gili Tramena, so it is vital that we ensure its tourism model remain sustainable’, said Agus.

Status Gili Tramena

It is safe to say that Gili Tramena’s status is special. Referring to Presidential Regulation No. 84 of 2021 concerning the 2020–2044 Master Plan for the National Tourism Destination of Lombok, Gili Tramena is included in the list of National Tourism Strategic Areas and Local Tourism Strategic Areas, which means it falls under the auspices of both the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the NTB Provincial Government. Gili Tramena is also a conservation zone as well as a fishery zone, which means it is under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Apart from these 3 institutions, there are 2 other levels of government that have an interest and also participate in managing it, namely the North Lombok District Government and the Gili Indah Village Government. Administratively, Gili Indah Village, covers the 3 islands of Gili Tramena.

The government and non-government institutions involved in assisting and managing Gili Tramena use different tools to measure and monitor their respective achievements. As a result, the resilience of coastal communities with tourism characteristics such as Gili Tramena is difficult to measure.

Strengthening the area

Considering this situation, the SIAP SIAGA Program together with the BPBD of NTB Province and the NTB Disaster Risk Reduction Forum, designed a study tool that adapted 3 models at once, referencing indicators of disaster resilient villages (Destana), the resilience of small islands and coastal areas, and sustainable livelihoods. The integration  of these 3 models is the first of its kind in Indonesia.

The approach taken in this study includes 6 components, namely Quality of and Access to Basic Services; Basics of Disaster Management Systems; Disaster Risk Management; Emergency Preparedness; Recovery Preparedness; and Sustainable Livelihoods. The data collection and triangulation process was carried out in October–December 2022 and included a desk review, focus group discussion (FGD), observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation.  

The conclusion of this study shows that while Gili Tramena still has work to do to achieve local resilience, there is significant progress being made, especially in disaster resilience for small islands and coastal areas. Gili Indah Village is recognised by the BPBD of NTB Province as a Disaster Resilient Village (Destana), classified as Destana Pratama. However, to further enhance their preparedness, the village is in the process of developing comprehensive regulations on the disaster management.          

Anggraeni Puspitasari, Disaster Risk Management Coordinator of the SIAP SIAGA Program in NTB, said that this study was the starting point for assistance in coastal areas and small islands, starting from Gili Tramena. In agreement with Agus, according to Anggraeni the challenge is now in dealing with the restart of tourism following the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Awareness of disasters is usually higher in communities that have experienced them. But we need to admit that as the situation recovers, this awareness will easily fade’, she said.

Similarly crucial, according to Anggraeni, is strengthening Gili Tramena’s disaster resilience while considering the unique cultural requirements of its two zones. Gili Tramena is divided into two distinct zones: the core zone, primarily used for tourism, and the buffer zone, which is the land area on Lombok Island. The buffer zone residents strongly adhere to local wisdom, particularly in terms of land use. In contrast, the core zone’s extensive use of land for tourism makes it challenging for residents to practice effective disaster preparedness. Moving forward, it is essential to strengthen resilience and preparedness in an integrated manner, tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of each zone, ensuring that both tourism and local wisdom are balanced for enhanced disaster resilience.

Based on the study’s conclusions, efforts to achieve disaster resilience on Gili Tramena will require cross-sectoral resource mobilisation, which must be outlined in the action plans of each involved party. “The SIAP SIAGA program provides assistance to the BPBD in testing the application of this study tool. In the future, the tool is expected to reach the implementation level, making it easier to replicate in other coastal areas based on their specific needs and conditions. This is our focus for 2024 on Gili Tramena,” said Anggraeni.