Osaka, Kansai, Japan, May 3, 2025 — Two women from East Manggarai and Nagekeo Regencies in East Nusa Tenggara, known as "Mama Bamboo," represented Indonesia as speakers at the Women’s Pavilion of World Expo 2025 Osaka. The event, titled “Empowered Women and Bamboo: The Indonesian New Normal,” took place on Friday, May 2, at 11:30 AM local time. Mama Paula Thresia and Mama Florentina Ceme Owa highlighted the role of women in nurturing nature, ensuring environmental sustainability, and generating added value through bamboo.

Mama Paula explained that bamboo conservation initiatives have become an integral part of daily life in East Nusa Tenggara communities. “Bamboo is a cultural element and a vital part of everyday life for women in Mokel Morid Village. From birth to death, bamboo is deeply intertwined with our culture. Therefore, we aim to preserve bamboo through seedling cultivation and planting,” she stated.

The Mama Bamboo group actively engages in bamboo seedling cultivation and planting, particularly around water sources and critical lands. These efforts aim to maintain environmental sustainability while supporting the local economy. They have successfully produced bamboo tea, biochar, liquid smoke, drip irrigation systems, charcoal, bamboo weavings, and other bamboo crafts. “Village women can become agents of change when they unite and believe in their strength. Often, women's roles are overlooked, especially in villages. Through the Delima group in Wolowea Village, we have come to realize that bamboo and culture must continue to thrive,” said Mama Florentina.

Monica Tanuhandaru, Chairperson of the Environmental Bamboo Foundation (Yayasan Bambu Lingkungan Lestari/YBLL), served as the moderator for the session at the Women’s Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka. She highlighted that beyond bamboo conservation, the Mama Bamboo group has been managing forest areas under a social forestry permit since 2022. “In expanding forest areas through various tree-planting activities, women's involvement has been consistent. To date, they have planted over a thousand bamboo stalks and aim for a greater impact by 2025,” Monica explained.

This initiative has garnered support from various parties, including the Environmental Family Foundation and Cartier Osaka. Such collaborations reinforce the message that environmental protection is not merely a temporary project but an integral part of daily life for women in the Mama Bamboo community. Protecting the Earth is not a project for the women of East Nusa Tenggara; it is their everyday life. Therefore, women must break free from discrimination and become leaders of their own lives.

The presence of Mama Bamboo at Expo 2025 Osaka is part of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas's effort to showcase exemplary environmental conservation practices from local regions on the international stage. This serves as tangible evidence that sustainable development can go hand in hand with women's participation. “Women play a crucial role in environmental conservation, food production, and management—from the fields to the dining table. Therefore, any attempt to exclude women from natural and food resource management is misguided,” concluded Maria Wuda, Coordinator for East Manggarai Regency at YBLL.

At the Women’s Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka, two bamboo bicycles—Spedagi models GoRo and Rodacilik 02, designed by Singgih S. Kartono—are also on display. As part of the event series, Mama Bamboo is scheduled to hold a talk show and a bamboo tea-making workshop today, Saturday, May 3, at 12:50 PM local time at the Indonesia Pavilion.

Messages and Best Practices of Environmental Conservation by Mama Bamboo at the Women’s Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka