Cut Nuraini, Feby Milanie, Abdi Sugiarto, Mohd Nazri Saidon

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE IN WATERSHED GOVERNANCE FOR ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE BATANG GADIS RIVER BASIN IN THE SETTLEMENT LANDSCAPE OF MANDAILING NATAL

Introduction

Local knowledge in watershed governance for ecosystem restoration: a case study of the batang gadis river basin in the settlement landscape of mandailing natal. Explore how local knowledge in the Batang Gadis River Basin, Mandailing Natal, enhances watershed governance and ecosystem restoration. This study reveals indigenous practices crucial for water quality, biodiversity, and community stewardship.

Abstract

The Batang Gadis Watershed in Mandailing Natal faces mounting ecological pressures from environmental degradation, changing land-use patterns, and insufficient community participation in conservation initiatives. To address these challenges, the indigenous ecological wisdom of the Mandailing community presents a culturally appropriate and proven framework for watershed stewardship. This study explores local knowledge systems used in river management and evaluates their contribution to ecosystem restoration. Through a qualitative case study methodology, researchers gathered data via interviews with community elders, direct observation of practices, and comprehensive documentation of river-centered cultural traditions. The study reveals that traditional practices including as lubuk larangan (sacred fishing prohibition areas), ceremonial rituals (marpangir), and streamside management protocols constitute an integrated ecological governance framework. These customary practices help preserve water quality, safeguard biological diversity, and strengthen community-based resource stewardship. The findings demonstrated that indigenous knowledge systems substantially improve watershed resilience. Incorporating these traditional approaches into official environmental framework offers a context-sensitive, community-driven, and culturally authentic pathway for ecological restoration.

Review

This study offers a compelling exploration into the critical role of local knowledge in watershed governance and ecosystem restoration, focusing on the Batang Gadis River Basin in Mandailing Natal. Addressing pressing environmental degradation and insufficient community participation, the research posits that the indigenous ecological wisdom of the Mandailing community provides a culturally appropriate and effective framework for stewardship. Through a qualitative case study methodology encompassing interviews, direct observation, and cultural documentation, the authors reveal how traditional practices contribute significantly to watershed resilience. The premise that incorporating such indigenous approaches can offer a context-sensitive and community-driven pathway for ecological restoration is both timely and highly relevant to contemporary environmental challenges. The paper's key strength lies in its meticulous examination of specific traditional practices, such as *lubuk larangan* (sacred fishing prohibition areas), ceremonial rituals (*marpangir*), and streamside management protocols, demonstrating their integration into a robust ecological governance framework. By detailing how these customs actively preserve water quality, safeguard biodiversity, and foster community-based resource stewardship, the study moves beyond a generalized appreciation of indigenous knowledge to provide concrete examples of its functional efficacy. This empirical grounding strengthens the argument for the profound contribution of indigenous knowledge systems to watershed resilience, offering valuable insights for both practitioners and policymakers seeking sustainable and culturally authentic conservation solutions. The qualitative approach is well-suited to capturing the rich nuances of these deeply embedded cultural practices. While the abstract strongly advocates for the incorporation of traditional approaches into official environmental frameworks, it would be beneficial for the full paper to delve deeper into the potential challenges and practical mechanisms involved in such integration. Further discussion on how these traditional frameworks interact with existing formal governance structures, potential power dynamics, or scalability issues across different contexts would enrich the implications. Additionally, exploring how the effectiveness of these practices is sustained amidst external pressures such as economic development or climate change, and whether there are internal mechanisms for adaptation or conflict resolution within the traditional system, could further strengthen the study's contribution. Nevertheless, this work presents a crucial argument for recognizing and valuing indigenous ecological wisdom in addressing complex environmental problems.

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