Strengthening Disaster Preparedness in the Geopark Area, FH UNJA Community Service Team Holds Disaster Mitigation Outreach in Merangin

MERANGIN – As part of the implementation of the Tridharma Perguruan Tinggi (Three Pillars of Higher Education), the Community Service Team from the Faculty of Law (FH), Universitas Jambi (UNJA), successfully held a Disaster Mitigation Outreach activity in Desa Talang Paruh, Kecamatan Lembah Masurai, Kabupaten Merangin, on [Tuesday, 18 July 2026]. This program was initiated as a strategic step to enhance residents' preparedness for potential flood and landslide hazards, which are prone to occur within the Merangin Jambi Geopark area.

Synergy Between Higher Education and Local Government

This community service activity was not carried out alone. FH UNJA collaborated with expert resource persons from the Merangin Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the Jambi Province Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).

The presence of these experts aimed to provide comprehensive and practical education to the village community. The key focus areas of the material presented included:

• Tactical disaster mitigation steps before, during, and after an event.
• Strengthening community capacity and self-reliant preparedness.
• Strategies for building a disaster-resilient culture rooted in local community strength.

Supporting the Sustainability of Merangin Jambi Geopark

The selection of Desa Talang Paruh as the location for this community service activity is highly relevant, given its position within the buffer zone of Merangin Jambi Geopark. Community preparedness in this area is a key indicator in maintaining the preservation and safety of the geological site.

Through strong synergy and collaboration among higher education institutions, local government, and civil society, Desa Talang Paruh is expected to transform into a village that is better prepared, more resilient, and more adaptive in responding to disaster risks. This heightened awareness of mitigation will ultimately make a real contribution to supporting the sustainable management of the Merangin Jambi UNESCO Global Geopark area.