Mekanisme dan Aktor Konservasi Hutan Berbasis Kearifan Lokal pada Orang Karo di Desa Daulu

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mechanisms and Actors: Local Wisdom-Based Forest Conservation the Karo People in Daulu Village By: Kerin Nasrani Kislow Br Purba 210905099

This study aims to examine the mechanisms and actors in local wisdom-based forest conservation among the Karo people in Daulu Village, Karo Regency, North Sumatra. The background to this research is based on the increasing national deforestation that threatens the sustainability of forest ecosystems, as well as the importance of local wisdom as an alternative approach to environmental conservation. The Karo people demonstrate a strong ecological relationship with the forest through traditional and spiritual practices passed down through generations. This study used a qualitative approach with ethnographic methods. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, literature review, and documentation. Informants were selected using the snowball technique, and data were analyzed using ongoing analysis and verbatim field note recording to maintain the authenticity of the field data. The results of the study indicate that conservation mechanisms in Daulu Village are implemented through customary prohibitions, oral traditions, and spiritual rituals such as Erpangir ku Lau and Ercibal. Customary prohibitions such as not being allowed to cut down trees in sacred areas, or entering the forest without permission, serve as a form of social control against the exploitation of natural resources. The community believes that the forest is a place where ancestral spirits reside and must be sacredly maintained. Conservation actors are divided into two main types, namely internal actors and external actors. Internal actors consist of customary leaders, spiritual leaders, and the general public who are actively involved in forest maintenance based on local cultural values. External actors include the government, religious communities, and the private sector who provide structural support and advocacy for environmental conservation. The interaction between the two forms a participatory, dynamic, and community-based conservation system. external actors. Internal actors consist of customary leaders, spiritual leaders, and the general public who are actively involved in forest maintenance based on local cultural values. The discussion shows that forest conservation is not simply an ecological activity, but rather an expression of the Karo people's culture, spirituality, and identity. Local conservation mechanisms have the potential to be integrated into broader environmental conservation policies, particularly in the context of indigenous community-based conservation. The conclusion of this study is that Karo conservation practices reflect local ecological knowledge that is effective in maintaining forest sustainability. The researchers recommend that the government and relevant institutions more seriously involve indigenous communities in the formulation of conservation policies and utilize local wisdom as the foundation for equitable and sustainable ecological policies.

Keywords: forest conservation, local wisdom, indigenous rituals, social actors, ethnography