Adat-based Conservation: Realizing The Rights of Nature and Ecological Citizenship of Gunung Merapi and Danau Sentarum Communities

Afkar Aristoteles Mukhaer

Authors

Afkar Aristoteles Mukhaer Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies (CRCS), University of Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Keywords:

Adat, Conservation, Ecological citizenship, Rights of nature, Inclusivity

Abstract

Adat communities (Indigenous peoples) in Indonesia have a relationship with the surrounding nature. This paradigm takes nature such as mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, and wildlife living subjects with equal rights to humans. This idea can support more efficient and effective conservation efforts than relying solely on NGOs. In this paper, I analyze the discourse on ecological citizenship and the rights of nature that adat communities can represent as a conservation effort based on customs in local communities of Mount Merapi National Park and Iban communities in Danau Sentarum National Park. From the findings, I found that the presence of adat communities is important in conservation efforts and has advantages in the efficiency of management and funding of conservation efforts, but their existence and customary values are marginalized in Indonesian citizenship politics. As an effort to recognize ecological citizenship and the rights of nature, this finding suggests a major change in the citizenship framework, politics, and regulations for inclusivity in Indonesia by supporting the sovereignty and true recognition of adat communities and their religiosity.

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