The workshop to prepare for the Palu-Koro Fault Expedition was held on 11 August 2016 at the DEN Building (National energy Council), Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jakarta. The workshop organized by the Scale Indonesia Foundation was held thanks to the support of the Association of Indonesian Geologists (IAGI), National Exploration Committee (KEN) – Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) and Technology Research and Application Agency (BPPT). The workshop was enthusiastically attended by 45 participants from various circles both geologists, anthropology, social, journalists and national disaster observers, and lasts a full day.
The expedition was initiated by the SKALA Association and the National Platform (Plan) for Disaster Risk Reduction (PRB) it has been fully supported by IAGI from the very beginning. Following this came support from BPPT and BNPB. Then following that KEN was also represented by its Chairperson Andang Bachtiar who also gave full support in a short speech to close the workshop event.
The Palu-Koro Fault is known to cut Palu City (Palu Valley) and Sungai Lariang on the Koro River segment (Koro Valley). Fault column, extending from around the boundary of the Sulawesi Sea with the Makassar Strait to the north coast of the Gulf of Bone. Length is approx 500 km. On land, This fault has a length of approx 250 km, starting from Palu Bay extending in a south-southeast direction to the north coast of Bone Bay.
In the morning session, workshop displays 3 sources from geologists who presented technical aspects along the Palu Koro Fault. They are Dr. Danny Hilman Natawidjaja (IAGI/LIPI), Dr. Mudrik Daryono (LIPI) and Dr. Ade Kadarusman (IAGI/ MGEI). This morning's session was moderated by Arif Pramono Sunu (IAGI/ Medco Energi) discussing geology, tectonics, structure and earth resources along the Palu Koro Fault. Detailed research that has been carried out by the three informants includes the effectiveness of geological structures in this area, tectonic and seismic history, The following are the logical consequences if the fault moves. Several findings and hypotheses about humans who once lived in this region (since prehistoric times) – in Lore Lindu for example and their behavior in anticipating natural disasters/earthquakes were also discussed.
Moderator for the second session in the workshop, Jojo Rahardjo from DisasterChannel.co, delivered in the opening of the discussion, that a seminar of geologists and disaster experts (Jaya Giri Jaya Bahari National Seminar) in year 2014 produce some important facts among others that there is 80 active faults in Indonesia that can trigger small or strong earthquakes. That means there are many areas that are prone to earthquakes or disasters in Indonesia. What the geologists said, including Surono from the Geological Agency and Widjo Kongko from BPPT, useful for the preparation of various Disaster Risk Reduction movements (PRB). For this reason, the Palu-Koro Expedition was created, namely one of them is to translate the studies of scientists into a DRR program that is more communicative and more useful for the community.
One of the resource persons in the workshop, Mudrik Daryono from LIPI delivered, that he had researched the Palu-Koro Fault for his doctoral dissertation. According to him, the Palu-Koro Fault is divided 3 segment and one of the segments is in the middle of Palu city which of course must be taken seriously. The results of this study have never been published because they still require further research, Moreover, publication for research of this kind must be careful because it can cause anxiety or panic.
Another source, Ahmad Arief from KOMPAS described various expeditions he had undertaken in various regions in Indonesia and especially in Sulawesi. The expedition he did with KOMPAS covered various aspects that could be called almost complete. Expedition results are poured in various formats, of course including multimedia formats that can be enjoyed online. One of the interesting aspects is the finding that the flora and fauna in Sulawesi show that in the past, Sulawesi is a number of different islands that later merged. Even the continents of Australia and Asia were once part of Sulawesi. Ahmad Arief also explained that the area of Sulawesi in ancient times used to be an area passed by early human migration.
Another resource person, Heriyadi Rachmat from IAGI/MAGI/Geological Agency emphasized, that the geotourism potential in the Palu-Koro Fault area is quite large, but it needs to be reminded that it should not only be encouraged geotourism but also geo parks, because geo park involves the role of local government and the role of the surrounding community, so as to ensure the sustainability of the tourist area. Heriyadi Rachmat presented many examples of geotourism and geoparks from various places in the world and in Indonesia. It is hoped that this expedition will further examine geotourism and geopark opportunities, so that it can become an inspiration for local governments and other related parties.
Meanwhile, the resource person was Arianto Sangaji from York University, Toronto, Canada describes the background of the people of Sulawesi based on sociology. Arianto Sangaji's presentation is important for understanding the people in the Poso conflict area who happen to be in the Palu-Koro Expedition area. Arianto Sangaji alludes to the names of, among others, Tibo and Santoso who became famous due to the social conflict in the region to illustrate the complexity of the explanation (sociologically) the background to the conflict. The explanation was given within the framework of the DRR program which must adapt to the background of various community groups in the region.
Arianto interacted with various community groups in Sulawesi for a long time before continuing his studies abroad. It then also displays, that today's community groups in Sulawesi are not indigenous people who have lived for a long time in their respective regions, but a society that is actively engaged and affected by various changes at the national and world levels. Capitalism is also said by Arianto to have helped shape the temperament of various community groups in Sulawesi.
Sukmandaru Prihatmoko (IAGI), Anif Punto Utomo (IAGI) and Trinirmala Ningrum (Scale) finally closed the workshop by concluding among others, that after various exposures from the informants, good from geology, as well as from non-geology, it was concluded that the Palu-Koro Expedition was important. There are several aspects that must be put forward from the area that is above the Palu-Koro Fault, for example aspects of the earthquake that resulted in a disaster, geotourism or geopark aspects that can support the local economy, aspects of society that are prone to social conflict, aspects of natural mineral resources, historical and anthropological aspects, as well as aspects of science more generally, but useful for humanity. Geologists will also be more actively involved in the DRR movement, because it has been doing scientific studies related to disasters for a long time, although it has not been exposed or published to the public. (DM)