Pendekatan Komunikasi Lingkungan untuk Meningkatkan Partisipasi Masyarakat dalam Pelestarian Mangrove di Kaledupa, Wakatobi

Abstract

Tingginya degradasi mangrove dipengaruhi oleh tekanan ekonomi, kebergantungan masyarakat terhadap sumber daya mangrove, serta lemahnya penegakan aturan menjadi dasar pentingnya upaya pelestarian ekosistem mangrove. Terdapat perbedaan perspektif mengenai mangrove. Mayoritas masyarakat di pesisir Kaledupa memandang mangrove sebagai sumber penghidupan, sementara pemerintah dan lembaga konservasi menekankan fungsi ekologis dan keberlanjutan mangrove. Perbedaan perspektif tersebut memerlukan strategi komunikasi lingkungan yang mampu membangun kesepahaman antar pemangku kepentingan, menyelaraskan tujuan pelestarian dengan kebutuhan masyarakat lokal, serta mendorong terciptanya pengelolaan mangrove yang berkelanjutan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk (1) menganalisis komunikasi lingkungan yang dilaksanakan dalam pengelolaan mangrove, (2) menganalisis pengaruh antara karakteristik individu, proses komunikasi lingkungan, dan tingkat dukungan eksternal terhadap partisipasi masyarakat dalam pengelolaan mangrove, dan (3) menganalisis pengaruh partisipasi masyarakat dalam pengelolaan mangrove terhadap keberlanjutan sosial, ekonomi, dan lingkungan di wilayah pesisir. Penelitian dilakukan dengan metode survei melibatkan anggota kelompok binaan Balai Taman Nasional Wakatobi (BTNW) Wilayah II Kaledupa. Data dikumpulkan mulai Juli sampai dengan Agustus 2024 di empat desa yaitu Desa Lewuto, Desa Ambeua Raya, Desa Haruo, dan Desa Mantigola, Kecamatan Kaledupa, Kabupaten Wakatobi. Populasi penelitian adalah 229 orang anggota kelompok binaan BTNW. Responden penelitian terpilih sebanyak 67 orang (29% dari populasi) yang memenuhi syarat berikut, yaitu: berada di lokasi pada saat penelitian dan bersedia diwawancarai (convenience sampling). Data kualitatif diperoleh melalui wawancara mendalam dengan 10 informan (Staf BTNW Wilayah II Kaledupa, Sara Barata Kahedupa, perwakilan perangkat desa, Forum Kahedupa Toudani (FORKANI), Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), dan anggota kelompok pengelola kawasan mangrove. Data penelitian yang dikumpulkan meliputi profil responden, proses komunikasi lingkungan, dukungan eksternal, partisipasi masyarakat, dan keberlanjutan pengelolaan mangrove. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi lapang dan wawancara mendalam. Data yang diperoleh diolah menggunakan statistik deskriptif dan uji regresi linear berganda. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa proses komunikasi lingkungan dalam pengelolaan kawasan mangrove di Kaledupa dilihat dari intensitas komunikasi dan konvergensi komunikasi yang dilakukan melalui kegiatan penyuluhan dan pelatihan. Keberhasilan pengelolaan mangrove dipengaruhi oleh intensitas pertemuan terjadwal, seperti pelatihan dan pemanfaatan media komunikasi yang mendukung interaksi dua arah. Dalam hal ini, masyarakat mengikuti pelatihan sebanyak dua sampai tiga kali dalam setahun dan termasuk dalam kategori tinggi. Hal ini mencerminkan tingginya kesadaran masyarakat akan pentingnya komunikasi dalam pertukaran informasi, koordinasi, dan kolaborasi untuk pelestarian mangrove. Begitu pula dengan konvergensi komunikasi, yang ditunjukkan oleh tingkat pengetahuan masyarakat yang tinggi. Pengetahuan yang didapat oleh masyarakat bukan berasal dari pendidikan formal, melainkan pendidikan nonformal, yaitu kegiatan penyuluhan dan pelatihan dari Balai Taman Nasional Wakatobi, FORKANI, dan YKAN. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan komunikasi konvergen, informasi dapat dipraktikkan dan dikembangkan menjadi tindakan kolektif, yang pada akhirnya menghasilkan kesepakatan bersama untuk pengelolaan mangrove yang berkelanjutan. Partisipasi masyarakat dalam pengelolaan mangrove di Kaledupa dipengaruhi oleh proses komunikasi lingkungan yang dilakukan, serta dukungan eksternal dari pemerintah, kelembagaan lokal dan pihak swasta yang menunjukkan pengaruh yang signifikan. Tingkat partisipasi masyarakat berada pada level sering pada semua tahapan, baik perencanaan, pelaksanaan, menikmati hasil, maupun evaluasi. Partisipasi aktif lebih tinggi pada kelompok masyarakat yang memiliki pemahaman dan kepentingan langsung terhadap kelestarian mangrove. Tingkat partisipasi masyarakat berpengaruh signifikan terhadap keberlanjutan pengelolaan mangrove di Kaledupa. Partisipasi masyarakat terhadap upaya melestarikan mangrove berada pada kategori tinggi. Bentuk partisipasi tersebut meliputi keterlibatan dalam penyusunan rencana pengelolaan, rehabilitasi melalui pembibitan dan penanaman mangrove, pengawasan kawasan, serta evaluasi program pengelolaan. Keberhasilan ini didukung oleh program kemitraan konservasi, penyuluhan dan pelatihan, serta kegiatan rehabilitasi mangrove. Partisipasi masyarakat tercermin dari keikutsertaan dalam pertemuan kelompok, pelaksanaan rehabilitasi mangrove, patroli dan pengawasan kawasan, serta keterlibatan dalam pengambilan keputusan dan evaluasi program. Keberhasilan pengelolaan mangrove juga diperkuat oleh dukungan BTNW melalui pendampingan, penyuluhan, pelatihan, dan fasilitasi kemitraan konservasi, FORKANI melalui penguatan kelembagaan dan koordinasi masyarakat, serta YKAN melalui peningkatan kapasitas dan pendampingan teknis. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan penguatan komunikasi lingkungan dan kolaborasi multipihak secara berkelanjutan agar partisipasi masyarakat tetap terjaga dan mampu mendukung keberlanjutan pengelolaan mangrove di Kaledupa.

The high rate of mangrove degradation, driven by economic pressures, communities’ dependence on mangrove resources, and weak enforcement of regulations, underscores the importance of efforts to conserve mangrove ecosystems. There are differing perspectives on mangroves. The majority of the community along the Kaledupa coast view mangroves as a source of livelihood, while the government and conservation organizations emphasize the ecological functions and sustainability of mangroves. These differing perspectives require an environmental communication strategy capable of building mutual understanding among stakeholders, aligning conservation goals with the needs of local communities, and promoting sustainable mangrove management. This study aims to (1) analyze the environmental communication practices implemented in mangrove management, (2) analyze the interplay between individual characteristics, environmental communication processes, and the level of external support on community participation in mangrove management, and (3) analyze the impact of community participation in mangrove management on social, economic, and environmental sustainability in coastal areas. The study was conducted using a survey method involving members of the Wakatobi National Park Office (BTNW) Region II Kaledupa community development group. Data were collected from July through August 2024 in four villages Lewuto, Ambeua Raya, Haruo, and Mantigola in Kaledupa Subdistrict, Wakatobi Regency. The study population consisted of 229 members of the BTNW community groups. A total of 67 respondents (29% of the population) were selected based on the following criteria: they were present at the study sites during the research period and were willing to be interviewed (convenience sampling). Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 10 informants (BTNW Region II Kaledupa staff, Sara Barata Kahedupa, village officials, the Kahedupa Toudani Forum (FORKANI), the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN), and members of the mangrove area management group). The research data collected included respondent profiles, environmental communication processes, external support, community participation, and the sustainability of mangrove management. Data were collected through field observations and in-depth interviews. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression tests. The research findings show that the environmental communication process in mangrove area management in Kaledupa is characterized by the intensity and convergence of communication carried out through outreach and training activities. The success of mangrove management is influenced by the frequency of scheduled meetings, such as training sessions, and the use of communication media that support two-way interaction. In this regard, the community participates in training two to three times a year, which falls into the “high” category. This reflects the community’s high awareness of the importance of communication in information exchange, coordination, and collaboration for mangrove conservation. Similarly, communication convergence is demonstrated by the community’s high level of knowledge. The knowledge acquired by the community does not stem from formal education but rather from non-formal education specifically, outreach and training activities conducted by the Wakatobi National Park Office, FORKANI, and YKAN. By employing a convergent communication approach, information can be put into practice and developed into collective action, ultimately leading to a shared consensus on sustainable mangrove management. Community participation in mangrove management in Kaledupa is influenced by environmental communication processes, as well as external support from the government, local institutions, and the private sector, all of which have a significant impact. The level of community participation is frequent at all stages planning, implementation, enjoying the benefits, and evaluation. Active participation is higher among community groups that have a direct understanding of and stake in mangrove conservation. The level of community participation has a significant impact on the sustainability of mangrove management in Kaledupa. Community participation in mangrove conservation efforts is high. Forms of participation include involvement in the development of management plans, rehabilitation through mangrove propagation and planting, area monitoring, and evaluation of management programs. This success has been supported by conservation partnership programs, outreach and training, and mangrove rehabilitation activities. Community participation is reflected in their involvement in group meetings, the implementation of mangrove rehabilitation, patrols and monitoring of the area, as well as their involvement in decision-making and program evaluation. The success of mangrove management is also reinforced by support from BTNW through mentoring, outreach, training, and facilitation of conservation partnerships; from FORKANI through institutional strengthening and community coordination; and from YKAN through capacity building and technical assistance. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen environmental communication and sustainable multi-stakeholder collaboration to ensure that community participation is maintained and can support the sustainability of mangrove management in Kaledupa.