When Ethnohistory Meets Biodiversity: Bridging Local Wisdom and Language Literacy through Participatory Mapping in East Java

Abstract

Although Kemiren Tourism Village in East Java possesses a rich synergy of ethnohistory and biodiversity, these local wisdoms remain fragmented and unintegrated into language literacy programs. Therefore, this study aims to map the region's historical and ecological potentials through participatory mapping and analyze their feasibility for developing contextual bilingual (Indonesian-English) teaching materials. This research employs an exploratory case study approach utilizing participatory mapping methods. Data were collected through field observations, in-depth interviews with community leaders, inventories of historical sites and local flora/fauna, alongside environmental document analysis, followed by qualitative-descriptive analysis. The results reveal that the village holds immense ethnohistorical assets—such as cultural sites and oral traditions—alongside diverse, locally distinctive plants and animals. These integrated findings demonstrate high feasibility for formulating contextual bilingual teaching materials that successfully bridge local ecological and historical wisdom with language literacy. In conclusion, this research provides a practical instructional framework for educators to transform participatory mapping data into meaningful, integrated bilingual learning experiences that preserve local heritage while enhancing students' literacy competencies.