Changes of ecological wisdom of Sundanese People on conservation of wild animals: A case study in Upper Cisokan Watershed, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. Permana S, Iskandar J, Parikesit, Husodo T, Megantara EN, Partasasmita R. 2019. Changes of ecological wisdom of Sundanese People on conservation of wild animals: A case study in Upper Cisokan Watershed, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 1284-1293. In the past Sundanese rural people had a very close relationship with the environment. They utilize natural resources based on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and is strongly influenced by their perception of nature. This article elucidates the mythology of Sundanese rural people on wild animals and the changes of rural people perceptions and their behavior to wild animals in the rural ecosystem based on a case study in Bojong Salam and Sukaresmi villages, Rongga district, West Bandung, the upper Cisokan watershed, West Java. Method used in this study was qualitative, while some techniques, including observation, participant observation, and semi-structured interview were applied. The result of study showed that in the past Sundanese the rural people of Upper Cisokan watershed, West Bandung, West Java owned myths on some wild animals that is inherited from their ancestor through oral and using mother language. The influence of these myths on wild animals caused the rural people had prohibited to kill these animals and important role for traditional conservation. Nowadays, however, some myths on wild animals of rural people have not eroded or not recognized by young generations. Consequently, some taboos in hunting and catching animal based on myths on wild animals have tended not been applied to conserve wild animals traditionally. Therefore, to develop appropriate nature conservation, the biophysical, the socio-economic and cultural aspects must be holistically considered.

Analysis of the Structure and Ecological Function of an Extreme Landscape in a Tropical Region of West Java, Indonesia

“…An analogy approach with many relevant studies was conducted in order to complete the ecological function analysis of the landscape elements in Rongga Sub-district. Most of the literature used to assist the analysis was based on research that has been previously conducted in Rongga Subdistrict [16,17,40,41].…”

“…Dry land forests in Rongga Sub-district consist of both plantation and natural forests [40]. The plantation forests are pine (Pinus merkusii) production forests managed by Perhutani.…”

Traditional conservation and human-primate conflict in Ujungjaya Village Community, Ujung Kulon, Banten, Indonesia

“…Those spirits of place were believed to be embodied by wild animals (Wessing 1995;Wessing 1999). In addition to believing that spirits can possess and inhabit the body of wild animals, they also believed that various wild animals can shapeshift into humans, or the reverse-that wild animals can morph into humans (Wessing 1995;Rye 2000;Iskandar 2018;Permana et al 2019). Like other groups in rural Java, Ujungjaya people also believe that all wild animals inhabiting the forest were known as invisible animals (sato nyiluman), or animals possessed by spirits.…”

“…An important aspect of TEK is an understanding of local species (including primate) richness and abundance. TEK, or local knowledge of species diversity, is not static, but is a dynamic system that is influenced by various factors, such as: the development of market economies, socio-cultural change, habitat fragmentation, and agricultural modernization (Cowlishaw and Dunbar 2000;Partasasmita et al 2016aPartasasmita et al , 2016bPermana et al 2019). The development of a market economy and cultural change (e.g., the influence of urban lifestyles) impact rural areas, and may lead to behavioral changes among rural people.…”

“…For example, rural Sundanese communities who inhabit the Cisokan watershed in West Java possess a shapeshifting myth where endemic primate species, including the silvery gibbon (Hylobates moloch) and the grizzled langur, or surili (Presbytis comata), can morph into a clouded leopard (Panthera pardus). Because of this, certain attitudes commonly held toward leopards were extended to the primates (Permana et al 2019). The present article examines traditional conservation attitudes of Sundanese rural people inhabiting Ujungjaya Village, adjacent to Ujung Kulon National Park, Pandeglang District, Banten Province.…”