Mataram — The Environmental and Forestry Agency (DLHK) of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province expressed appreciation for PATTIRO’s initiative in facilitating the strengthening of climate funding in NTB Province. In the initial coordination meeting to build a mutual understanding for assistance between PATTIRO and the NTB Provincial Government, DLHK emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing environmental and forestry issues.

The meeting took place on Thursday (27/11) in the Planning and Forestry Utilization Division (PPH) Meeting Room at the NTB Provincial DLHK. On this occasion, the Head of PPH Division, Bono, presented the current condition of the environmental and forestry sector, specifically in Bima Regency, Bima City, and Dompu—three regions that will be the focus of the proposed climate funding strengthening program.

“Several regions, especially Bima and Dompu, have repeatedly experienced major floods and even flash floods. If there is no serious intervention, we face a major risk, including the possibility of Bima City being submerged,” stated Bono.

He also highlighted the central and regional government budget efficiency policy, which has resulted in limited capacity for ministries and regional governments to implement development programs, including those in the forestry and environmental sector.

Responding to these fiscal challenges, PATTIRO presented its program: Strengthening Alternative Funding for the Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Sector in NTB Province: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategy. This program aims to assist the provincial government in developing a stronger and more competitive FOLU proposal concept to secure funding support from various alternative sources.

PATTIRO Program Manager, Ramlan Nugraha, explained that the FOLU proposal concept prepared in 2024 had not yet received a response from donor agencies. “There are several important notes that need to be addressed to make the proposal more solid and meet the expectations of the funders. This assistance will ensure the NTB Provincial Government is ready to compete in accessing climate funding,” he said.

Ramlan emphasized that this assistance aligns with PATTIRO’s vision to strengthen the government’s capacity in managing environmental and forestry budgets. “The decrease in the Regional Transfer Fund (TKD) for NTB Province from IDR 3.4 trillion in 2025 to IDR 2.4 trillion in 2026 indicates an increasingly narrow fiscal space. Regions cannot rely solely on the Regional Budget (APBD); innovative and diverse ecological funding schemes are necessary,” he added.

NTB Province faces urgent environmental challenges that require adequate funding support. This assistance is not only about preparing a proposal but also about building the government’s capacity to access climate funding schemes sustainably.

At the end of the meeting, PATTIRO and the NTB Provincial DLHK agreed on a number of follow-up points to be documented in the minutes of agreement. PATTIRO Consultant, Muhayat, concluded the meeting by stressing the importance of joint action to ensure that efforts to strengthen climate funding in NTB Province can run effectively and produce tangible impact.