The Water Agency recently joined researchers from IVM Institute for Environmental Studies and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for fieldwork in Demak, Central Java, as part of an ongoing research project exploring fair and inclusive nature-based solutions in Indonesia.
The project examines how communities experience nature-based solutions in practice, particularly in relation to participation, decision-making, and the distribution of benefits and burdens. By combining academic research with local perspectives, the project seeks to better understand what fairness and inclusion look like in real-world adaptation initiatives. In Demak, the research team learned from ongoing mangrove restoration efforts implemented by Wetlands International Indonesia. Through site visits, interviews, and focus group discussions in Betahwalang and Wedung, the team explored community experiences with climate hazards, livelihoods, environmental change, and adaptation.
One of the strongest lessons from the field was that concepts commonly used in research, such as participation, inclusion, and fairness, do not always translate neatly into everyday experience. Questions that appeared straightforward in research design often required additional explanation, reframing, or different examples to make sense within local contexts.
The fieldwork also highlighted the importance of listening beyond survey responses. Community members shared perspectives shaped by their daily experiences of living with environmental change, offering insights that could not always be captured through predefined research categories. These conversations served as a reminder that meaningful engagement is not only about asking questions, but also about understanding how people interpret, experience, and respond to change.
For The Water Agency team, the fieldwork reinforced the importance of approaching research with humility and curiosity. While data collection remains a key part of the process, some of the most valuable insights emerge through dialogue, observation, and the recognition that local communities are often the experts in their own realities.
As the research continues, these experiences will help inform a deeper understanding of how nature-based solutions can contribute to both environmental resilience and social equity in Indonesia.
