As Indonesia continues to find appropriate and effective measures to reduce the impact of climate change, it is worthwhile at this point to take stock of what the country has done so far to adapt to climate change impacts and evaluate its potentials and options to develop enhanced strategies especially for the agriculture and rural sectors where most of the vulnerable groups are.  It is in this context that SEAMEO BIOTROP, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education of Indonesia and the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), will hold a “Seminar-Workshop on the State of the Art of Climate Change Adaptation in Southeast Asia: Focus on Indonesian Agriculture Sector” on 17 October 2011 at Kuta Paradiso Hotel in Bali.

This one-day seminar seeks to review and synthesize the state of climate change adaptation in the region with the view of helping Indonesia improve its efforts in formulating effective policies and interventions to address the effects of climate change on the agriculture sector. More specifically, it aims to:

(1)identify initial and current responses to the effects of climate change in Indonesia and in Southeast Asia;
(2)discuss potential interventions and programs Indonesia may/should implement to adapt to climate change;
(3)identify the roles of the different sectors in promoting the technical, policy and institutional support towards a sound and effective climate change risk management program for the  country; and
(4)identify collaborative researchable areas and capacity building activities to improve adaptation to climate change.

The seminar is divided into two plenary sessions on the State of the Art in Climate Change Adaptation in Indonesia and in Southeast Asia.  A workshop to draw research, capacity building, and policy interventions to facilitate climate change adaptation in Indonesia will follow after the plenary sessions.

Experts from national and international institutions in Indonesia, Philippines, and Australia will serve as speakers and discussants.

Interested individuals from relevant government agencies, academe, industry sector, development organizations and farmers’ association are welcome to attend the seminar Participants are expected to take care of their transportation and accommodation expenses to attend the seminar. About 25 slots are opened on a first-come, first-served basis. Kindly contact Ms. Rima Febriana either via email (Rima@biotrop.org) or phone (+62 251 8326851) for reservations.