Bridging Local Knowledge and Environmental Sustainability: Community Empowerment Strategies in Coastal Areas of Eastern Indonesia

Jouverd Fendli Frans; Pieter Hendra Manuputty; Christwyn R. Alfons; Benico Ritiauw; Elsina Titaley

Authors

Jouverd Fendli Frans Univesitas Pattimura, Indonesia
Pieter Hendra Manuputty Univesitas Pattimura, Indonesia
Christwyn R. Alfons Univesitas Pattimura, Indonesia
Benico Ritiauw Univesitas Pattimura, Indonesia
Elsina Titaley Univesitas Pattimura, Indonesia

Keywords:

Lingkungan Pesisir, Kesadaran Masyarakat, Edukasi Lingkungan, Pengelolaan Lingkungan

Abstract

This study examines community empowerment strategies grounded in local knowledge to foster ecological awareness and strengthen pro-environmental behavior among coastal communities in Eastern Indonesia. The research also investigates the integration of modern environmental education with local socio-cultural values in supporting community-based coastal sustainability. The study was motivated by increasing coastal environmental degradation caused by low ecological awareness, inadequate household waste management, shifting community lifestyles, and the declining integration of local knowledge into environmental practices. A qualitative method with a community-based participatory research approach was employed, positioning local communities as active participants throughout the research and empowerment process. Data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, documentation, and focus group discussions involving village authorities, customary leaders, religious leaders, and coastal residents in Leahari Village, Leitimur Selatan District. The findings reveal that participatory empowerment grounded in local cultural values significantly enhances community understanding and awareness of coastal environmental sustainability. The integration of customary values, local social structures, and community leadership effectively encouraged behavioral changes related to household waste management, coastal vegetation preservation, and sustainable environmental practices. The study proposes a culturally embedded environmental empowerment model that bridges local knowledge with modern ecological education through a bottom-up participatory approach. This research contributes to environmental sociology and community-based sustainable development studies, while offering practical recommendations for culturally adaptive environmental engagement programs in coastal communities.

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