Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture is launching targeted conservation measures to safeguard the historic Hiliamaetaniha Traditional Village on Nias Island, where extreme weather and landslide risks threaten its centuries-old wooden architecture.Culture Minister Fadli Zon stated Wednesday that the North Sumatra Cultural Preservation Center is coordinating with local communities and stakeholders to formulate urgent protection plans for the remote hilltop settlement.”The most important thing is to ensure that these traditional houses remain well preserved and do not suffer damage, espe cially amid increasingly extreme weather conditions,” Fadli said.Perched on a ridge in South Nias Regency, Hiliamaetaniha is renowned for its distinctive megalithic architecture and raised timber homes built without nails. However, its elevated geography makes it acutely vulnerable to heavy rainfall, erosion, and climate-induced landslides.Fadli highlighted the village as a prime example of community-led heritage preservation, noting that local residents have kept ancient customs alive despite severe environmental and geographical hurdles.”This village possesses extraordinary cultural wealth,” Fadli said. “Despite being located in a hilly area with various challenges, its customs, culture, and traditions remain alive because they are safeguarded by the community. This is part of the nation's cultural strength that we must continue to preserve together.”Beyond its traditional architecture, the village is famous for preserving living cultural practices, including Nias’s iconic Fahombo (stone-jumping ritual), traditional dances, and centuries-old oral folklore passed down through generations.The ministry stressed that preserving such sites extends beyond structural restoration to keeping indigenous knowledge systems alive. Jakarta is increasingly focusing on safeguarding traditional villages across the archipelago as climate risks pose growing threats to fragile heritage sites.