Revitalizing Local Wisdom Through Community-Based Environmental Education in the Citarum River Basin (DAS)

Abstract

Environmental issues in the Citarum River Basin (DAS) have become a national concern due to high levels of pollution and massive ecological degradation. One effective approach to addressing this issue is to integrate community-based environmental education based on local wisdom. The purpose of this community service is to revitalize the values of local wisdom through a participatory and contextual environmental education program. The theories underlying this activity include ecological education theory (Orr, 2004), community empowerment theory (Zimmerman & Rappaport, 1988), and participatory learning theory (Freire, 1970). The community service method used was community-based training with a participatory approach, field observations, and in-depth interviews. Results showed that after the training, community participation in environmental management increased significantly, particularly in tree planting, organic waste management, and strengthening the culture of mutual cooperation. Evaluation instruments showed an increase in participants' understanding of local environmental issues and local wisdom values. In conclusion, revitalizing local wisdom through environmental education can be an effective strategy in supporting the sustainability of community-based Citarum Watershed management.