River Conservation as a Representation of Environment-Friendly Community Movement

Abstract

River as main water source is used to meet daily life and activity needs of surrounding people, just like Code River of Yogyakarta. Therefore, the river conservation attempt is a common responsibility for all elements: community, regional government, and industry. This research aims to study activity of conserving Code River as a representation of social movement caring about environment. This exploratory research took place in Jetisharjo, Yogyakarta, because some river conserving activities are held by citizens and Pemerti activists affiliated with culture-based Code River conserving group selected using purposive sampling, involving the organizer of river school and Code Village Exploration, Yogyakarta City’s Environment Office, NGO, environmentalist, and academician. Data was collected through observation, in-depth interview, Focus Group Discussion, and documentation, validated using source triangulation, and analysed using Frickel and Arancibia’s new social movement theory. The result shows that the river conserving activity to keep nature clean involves cleaning Code River through removing rubbish contaminating the river, planting tree in the Code Riverbank to maintain the ecosystem balance around the river, educating the people about waste management, recycle, and plastic use reduction, constructing landfill, supervising pesticide use around the river, and promoting vegetable planting to maintain river water quality.