Malaka CN-040 team, Dra. Anggreini D. N. Rupidara, M.Si., Ph.D., (CO-PI), Herry A. Manubulu, S.Sos., M.Si., Ak., Yunaldi H. Tefu, S.Pi., M.Si., departed for Alas and Alas Selatan Village Research Sites, on 14 July 2024 and conducted secondary data collection on 15-16 July 2024, along with a team of enumerators for primary data collection in Alas and Alas Selatan Villages, on 15-24 July 2024.

Secondary data collection, led by CO-PI, was carried out at relevant agencies, among others Office of the Regional Planning, Research and Innovation Agency of Malaka Regency (Head of Division) (Dinas Baperida Kabupaten Malaka), Village Community Empowerment Office of Malaka Regency (Dinas Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Desa Kabupaten Malaka), Malaka District Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (Dinas PU dan Penataan Ruang Kabupaten Malaka), Malaka District Agriculture and Resilience Office (Dinas Pertanian dan Ketahanan Kabupaten Malaka), Regional Border Management Agency of Malaka Regency (Badan Pengelola Perbatasan Daerah Kabupaten Malaka)

The Head of the Department and the Head of the relevant Section in each department were willing to coordinate and provide the secondary data required by the CN-040 Team, except for the Public Works Department, where the requested data was available in the province. While the Research Location Head of Alas Village, Anselmus K.I. Berek, S.Kep and Head of Alas Selatan Village, Gregorius Hale, S.Ag

The visit to the research site in Alas Selatan Village was conducted on Monday, 15 July 2024, at 15.00 WITA, and Alas Village was conducted on Tuesday, 16 July 2024, at 13.00 WITA. During the visit, which took place in the meeting room of the village office, a Focus Group Discussion was also held with the Village Head, Traditional Leaders/Community Leaders, Women's Groups, and Youth of Alas Selatan Village, totaling 10 people, assisted by all enumerators of Alas Selatan Village and Alas Village. The Focus Group Discussion by the CN-040 Team specifically discussed the opinions of traditional elders/community leaders, women's and youth groups, and family heads regarding local wisdom policies regarding managing and utilizing Forests, Water, Energy, and Food. In this FGD, the community voluntarily gave good responses and answers to every question given. Forest management is still based on the customary rules that apply in both Alas Village and South Alas Village.

Meanwhile, enumerators in collecting primary data conducted interviews with 100 respondents in each village, coordinated directly by the Village Head and village officials, and the community (respondents) were very helpful and received the enumerators well. Primary data collection by enumerators was conducted for 10 days. The Village Head and the community hope that CN-040 research can affect the good development of Alas and Alas Selatan Villages.