By: Beno Fariza Syahri - Biologist Officer WWF Indonesia Lampung Office
The activities of the Suka Banjar community looked different at the Darussalam Mosque on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 coinciding with 24 Ramadhan 1438 H. As many as 300 people gathered together to attend the inauguration of the Sinar Maju Micro Hydro Power Plant and the Socialization of MUI Fatwa No. 4 of 2014 by Ustad Alif, a representative of MUI Bandar Lampung.

The inauguration ceremony was held as a form of gratitude from the people of Suka Banjar for the functioning of 8 micro-hydro units that were built and developed together through the work program and assistance of WWF Indonesia South Sumatra Program. The 8 micro-hydro units generate approximately 50,000 Kwh of electric current and help provide additional lighting for the community making it easier for them to do their daily activities.

"There are 129 families who are now enjoying the results of the micro-hydro power plant and several public facilities such as the mosque where this event took place," said Sujarwo, Coordinator of WWF Indonesia's MHP program for the Southern Sumatra Program.

The event was also filled with a spiritual session by Ustadz Alif on the theme of nature conservation which is the essence of the MUI fatwa no. 2014. The preservation of the environment, especially forests, will be felt by the people of Suka Banjar as the vanguard that interacts directly with the protected area of Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS), one of which is realized through the use of river flow around the village for micro hydro. The river flow is the source of power for the power plant that can now be enjoyed together. This natural potential will certainly be sustainable if forest sustainability is maintained because its availability depends on the condition of plant vegetation that lives around the water flow. The community is indirectly responsible for the protection of the forest that is their source of life.

Ustadz Alif also conveyed the need to protect animals that live wild in nature through his sermon as stated in MUI fatwa No. 4 of 2014 concerning "Preservation of Rare Animals to Maintain Ecosystem Balance". Humans have a duty to protect the earth and its contents by protecting animals such as elephants, tigers and rhinos for the sake of ecosystem balance and the sustainable benefit of mankind. People who used to do activities in protected forest areas to make ends meet are expected to realize and start leaving their jobs in order to preserve the forest.
After this inauguration, the community will be involved in monitoring the use of these micro-hydro facilities through a monitoring program for the equipment and the surrounding environment. The eight micro-hydro units are located in Siring Balak River and Tatasan River, which are not far from TNBBS. Monitoring activities are also carried out to observe the condition of the animal population around the micro-hydro and to determine the threat level of illegal activities that can damage and disrupt the natural balance that affects the sustainability of the micro-hydro function. Habitat conditions around the micro-hydro location are known to be threatened by land clearing and logging activities.

"Many large trees have been cut down and several locations around the two rivers have begun to be cleared for agriculture by people who generally come from outside the village of Suka Banjar" according to Pak Elli, the head of the community group that receives and manages the micro hydro during his speech.
The inauguration ceremony was closed with breaking the fast together and maghrib prayer in congregation. The community looks enthusiastic and hopes that this micro hydro program can continue so that it can be felt by all people in Suka Banjar village.