Peran Sosiologi Lingkungan Dalam Mendorong Partisipasi Komunitas Terhadap Perlestarian Hutan Adat di Tanah Papua

Abstract

Customary forests in Tanah Papua hold profound ecological, social, and cultural significance for indigenous communities as sources of livelihood, identity, and spiritual values. However, modernization pressures, industrial expansion, and weak recognition of customary land rights have posed serious threats to forest sustainability and community welfare. This study aims to explore the forms of community participation in the preservation of customary forests in Tanah Papua through the lens of environmental sociology. The research employed a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation involving 14 environmental communities in Jayapura and Sentani engaged in activities such as tree planting, beach cleanups, and climate education. Data were analyzed through the stages of reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that inter-community collaboration fosters new social capital in the form of ecological solidarity, collective awareness, and the revitalization of local wisdom in forest conservation. Despite limited policy support and economic pressures, communities have created social innovations through collective action that enhance environmental consciousness and strengthen the role of indigenous peoples as forest guardians. In conclusion, environmental sociology plays a strategic role in formulating socially just and sustainable socio-ecological solutions through community empowerment, legal recognition of customary territories, and environmental education rooted in local values.