Ecological and Historical Knowledge of the Community in Environmental Conservation: An Ethnopedagogical Study in Banyuwangi

Abstract

This study aims to explore the relationship between historical memory, local ecological knowledge, and linguistic practices of the community in environmental conservation in Banyuwangi through an ethnopedagogical approach. The community possesses local knowledge about regional history, plants, animals, and environmental management, but this knowledge has not been extensively documented as an educational resource. This research employs educational ethnography with an ethnopedagogical study approach through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. Research subjects consisted of traditional leaders, community leaders, farmers, youth groups, environmental managers, and documentation of oral traditions in Banyuwangi. Data were analyzed descriptively-qualitatively to identify ecological and historical knowledge that can be integrated into learning. The results show that the Banyuwangi community possesses rich ecological knowledge, reflected in farming practices using the Javanese calendar (pranotomongso), land zoning systems, and oral traditions such as Gending Seblang containing ecological narratives. Historical knowledge about the Blambangan Kingdom and the Osing people is also closely related to environmental conservation practices. This research produces documentation of local knowledge that can serve as a foundation for developing culture-based education in history, biology, and English.