Reviving Local Wisdom in Environmental Education to Support Ecological Sustainability: A Case Study of the Dayak Deah Community

Abstract

This study examines the local wisdom of the Dayak Deah community in environmental management as a sustainability strategy in response to modernization challenges. It aims to analyze how indigenous knowledge contributes to environmental education and supports sustainability. The research involved 346 respondents using questionnaires and interviews conducted in three villages in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and triangulated for validation. The findings indicate that the Dayak Deah community incorporates sustainability values into their environmental practices. Shifting cultivation preserves soil fertility, and non-timber forest products are harvested sustainably. Traditional ecological knowledge, such as herbal medicine and weather prediction, is inherited across generations. Water management, hunting, and conservation are governed by strict customary laws that protect natural resources. Social cohesion is strengthened through collective labor and ritual practices. These customary rules play a vital role in protecting indigenous forests. The study concludes that the Dayak Deah's local wisdom represents a viable model of sustainable ecology. Incorporating these values into education and policy is vital to raising environmental awareness and safeguarding indigenous knowledge for future generations.