Written by Tari Menayang

Two districts, Wonosobo and Kebumen in Central Java, are selected for the PLID program. The selection was based on the availability of the districts, their readiness to shoulder part of the program costs and to commit in participation of the training. PLID is a training program for decision makers at district level. The Introductory Phase (KPT 1) was conducted in the two districts in last August 2008. Following the Introductory Phase of training, a workshop and donor meeting was conducted for Wonosobo district on the first week of December 2008, which was a collaboration event between Wonosobo District with Yayasan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan (Foundation for Sustainable Development), Java Learning Center and the Partnership for Governance Reform. The workshop and donor meeting event was preceded by a study meeting with the ad hoc team of Dieng rehabilitation program. YPB initiated the workshop and donor meeting as it believes that the Dieng rehabilitation program is one of the major cases in Wonosobo and can be the crucial practice or praxis of the concept of sustainable development studied in the PLID training, in the context of leadership for integrated development in Wonosobo. The ultimate goal of the event is to raise fund, awareness and supports for the Pemda (local government) and people of Wonosobo for their program of Dieng eco-system rehabilitation, "SAVE DIENG." In the event Tim Pemulihan Dieng (Dieng Rehabilitation Team), headed by the Wonosobo Regent Kholiq Arif, and Dwiyama (participant of PLID training) described various problems of Dieng region, and the different programs that have been and will be conducted by the local government of Wonosobo and the people of Dieng to save the region.

More than 38 parties attended the event conducted on the 1st December 2008 at Grand Kemang Hotel, Jakarta. The event is an actual endeavor of Wonosobo local government to practice in the field the concepts of sustainable development and leadership for integrated development. Presentation about current condition of Dieng and the action plan was done by the Regent Kholiq Arief; while Dr. Bramastyo from Institut Pertanian Bogor explained about the economic evaluation of the Dieng potential. Asep Sugih Suntana presented the basic assumptions to reinforce the initiative to immediately rehabilitate Dieng ecosystem.

The ultimate results of the event were the documentation of parties or organizations committed to collaborate in the cause (documented in the Pledge Forms), and improved awareness to the problems of Dieng. Article or news about the event was published in the national newspaper Kompas , and can be found in www.forplid.net .

The next PLID training will be carried out in January and February 2009.