KOMUNIKASI LINGKUNGAN DALAM KEBERLANJUTAN PELESTARIAN HUTAN DI DESA MEDEWI KECAMATAN PEKUTATAN KABUPATEN JEMBRANA

Abstract

Deforestation constitutes a critical global ecological issue that necessitates the implementation of sustainable conservation strategies. The effectiveness of sustainable forest conservation is inherently linked to environmental communication practices, which play a pivotal role in fostering public awareness, shaping perceptions, and encouraging community participation. Medewi Village, located in Jembrana Regency, represents a community-based forest management context in which forest resources are utilized by local residents (pengawen) as a source of livelihood. The authority for managing this forest area has been formally delegated to the Medewi Village Forest Management Institution, which serves as a local governance body responsible for balancing ecological sustainability and economic utilization. In practice, environmental communication aimed at supporting forest conservation in Medewi Village remains predominantly rooted in traditional approaches. These practices include symbolic communication, such as the use of saput poleng, a culturally embedded artifact that signifies balance and harmony within Balinese cosmology. Furthermore, local wisdom is reflected in traditional practices such as the tanam tuwuh cultivation system and the philosophical framework of wana kertih, both of which emphasize ecological preservation and harmonious human–nature relationships. Such misinterpretations have contributed to unsustainable practices, including forest encroachment through land clearing beyond established boundaries and the emergence of informal transactions involving forest land. These conditions underscore the critical role of environmental communication in ensuring that regulatory frameworks and conservation principles are effectively disseminated and comprehended by local communities. Therefore, the development of strategic, inclusive, and context-sensitive environmental communication is essential to strengthen community understanding and engagement, thereby supporting the realization of sustainable forest management in alignment with national forestry regulations.