Revitalizing The Local Ecological Knowledge of The Bungku Community as a Foundation for Sustainable Development: An Ethnoecological Study of Agricultural and Maritime Traditions

Abstract

Contemporary environmental crises demand a paradigm shift away from purely technocratic solutions toward the integration of time-tested ecological wisdom. This article examines the Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK) of the Bungku community in Central Sulawesi, particularly its agricultural traditions (Mesui, Padungku, Musampalu, Mumparika) and maritime traditions (Batuba, Balobe), as instruments for regulating the use of natural resources. Using a qualitative-descriptive approach grounded in library research and ethnoecological analysis, this study maps the ecological function of each tradition, the social-ecological values embedded within them (social capital, an ethic of self-restraint, and cosmic reciprocity), and their current conservation status. The findings reveal a critical paradox: the traditions with the strongest ecological control functions, Mesui, Musampalu, Batuba, and Mumparika—are precisely those in the most critical condition, as they are perceived as incompatible with modern industrial efficiency, whereas traditions with a daily social-religious dimension persist more readily. The article proposes four integrative revitalization strategies: ecolinguistic codification and documentation, integration into local-content curricula, restoration of the role of customary institutions in environmental licensing, and the creation of a multi-stakeholder collaboration platform. These findings affirm that Bungku's local ecological knowledge constitutes a genuine prototype for sustainable environmental management that is adaptive to its specific socio-ecological context.