Reproduksi Etnosains (Etnobotani, Etnoekologi, Etnomedis) sebagai Penguatan Konservasi Alternatif: Perspektif Sejarah dan Budaya di Sulawesi Selatan

Abstract

South Sulawesi holds a wealth of local knowledge deeply rooted in the lives of its indigenous communities for centuries. This knowledge, known as ethnoscience, encompasses branches such as ethnobotany, ethnoecology, and ethnomedicine, which play a strategic role as a form of alternative, culture - based conservation. This community service activity was implemented through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) organized by the Ecology and Ethnobiology Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) on December 6, 2023. The objective of the activity was to disseminate, discuss, and document the rich ethnoscience of South Sulawesi's indigenous communities, including the Kajang, Bajo, Cerekang, Pattorani, Bentong, and Sinjai, as a foundation for strengthening community-based conservation. The method used was an educational-participatory approach that included presentations by resource persons, interactive discussions, and reflective sessions. The results of the activity showed that the practice of ethnoscience living in these communities has proven effective in maintaining the balance of forest and marine ecosystems. Strengthening cultural literacy and the reproduction of ethnoscience is a relevant conservation strategy amidst the threats of modernization and environmental exploitation. This activit y has significant social, cultural, and ecological impacts as a basis for developing conservation policies based on local wisdom.