The importance of natural resources for the well-being of humanity: An exploratory analysis

Background: This study explores the importance of natural resources for the well-being humanity. It also assesses economic benefits and environmental protection perceptions of preserving these resources. Natural resources shape lives, cultures and identities. They are important in the sustainability of life. Without these resources life will be impossible for humanity. There has been an increase in the exploitation of these resources resulting in environmental degradation and this poses a threat to their sustainability. This study argues that sustainability of life is grounded in the availability and sustainability of these resources. Consequently, there is a high need for States to enforce environmental policies to safeguard against exploitation of these resources. The study tried to give answers to the question of whether natural resources can be beneficial to the well-being of humanity and also explored how these resources can be preserved for future generations. It also argues that natural resources were created by God, rather than just occurring naturally. Methods: This study addresses the phenomenon using a qualitative exploratory framework. Data was collected from 28 participants who were environmentalist (52%) and theologians (48%). Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the participants were purposively selected. Data was transcribed, coded and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques and three main themes emerged. Findings: The findings revealed that natural resources greatly enhance people’s livelihoods and contribute to economic growth. They are freely given by God to be utilized and be preserved by humanity as human beings were entrusted to be guardians of the environment. They contribute to economic growth and help reduce poverty. While there are environmental policies in place, such policies are not adequately enforced. The exploitation of natural resources results in economic crises, ecological degradation and increase human vulnerability. Conclusion: the continued sustainability of human life is rooted in using natural resources in a responsible manner and in the conservation of these resources. Exploitation of natural resources poses a great threat to the sustainability of human life. Novelty/ originality of this article: This study is unique in the sense that it gives a deep exploration of the importance of natural resources including perceptions and historical theological disposition. It also provides insights into the perspectives of conserving these resources

Understanding pro-environmental behavior: A comparative analysis of rural and urban communities for environmental education and conservation

Background: Environmental degradation and climate change have become global concerns, driven by human activities such as the exploitation of natural resources. However, humans also play a crucial role in mitigating environmental damage through pro-environmental behavior. This behavior involves actions aimed at minimizing negative environmental impacts, which contribute to improving environmental quality. An individual’s affective connection with their social group and place of residence influences their pro-environmental behavior. The study compares pro-environmental behavior in urban and rural communities, focusing on the differences in driving factors across these settings. Methods: A literature review method was employed to gather data from 13 accredited articles discussing pro-environmental behavior in urban and rural communities across Asia, Europe, and America. The literature was sourced from scientific databases, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the existing research on the topic. Findings: Both urban and rural communities engage in pro-environmental behaviors, but the factors driving these behaviors differ. Rural communities tend to have stronger social bonds and a closer connection to the natural environment, which influences their pro-environmental actions. Urban communities, on the other hand, have greater knowledge of environmental issues but often show skepticism regarding others' ability to protect the environment. Differences in pro-environmental behavior are influenced by sociodemographic, cultural, and geographical conditions. Conclusion: Pro-environmental behavior varies between rural and urban communities due to different social, cultural, and geographical factors. Understanding these differences can help develop targeted strategies to encourage environmentally conscious actions in both settings. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study provides a comparative analysis of pro-environmental behavior in rural and urban communities across diverse regions, highlighting how sociodemographic, cultural, and geographical conditions influence environmental actions. This perspective has been less extensively addressed in previous research

Climate change education challenges in Indonesia: Educators’ perspective

Background: Indonesia, as an archipelago, is vulnerable to climate change. This research focuses on the importance of education in increasing community awareness and capacity for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Education is key to changing attitudes and habits, especially among children who are vulnerable but have great potential to adapt. The Indonesian government's initiative through the launch of the Climate Change Education Guidebook, which complements the independent curriculum, aims to help various stakeholders improve climate literacy and encourage collaborative action in addressing climate change. The purpose of writing this article is to identify the challenges faced by educators in teaching climate change education in schools. Methods: The method used in this research is qualitative, conducting in-depth interviews with three educators at different levels: elementary, junior high, and high school, each located in Lamandau District, Central Kalimantan, Bekasi, West Java, and Kaimana, West Papua. The results of the interviews are then analyzed to determine the gap between the concept of climate change education based on the independent curriculum and the implementation process in the field. Findings: Based on the results of the interviews, the three informants were unaware of the Climate Change Education Guidebook. Nevertheless, the three informants have begun to integrate climate change education lessons into the disciplines they teach. In addition to being directly integrated into classroom lessons, there is a Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project (P5) that helps students understand environmental issues and apply them directly in the school environment. However, training for educators on climate change education needs to be conducted to boost educators' confidence and enhance students' motivation to learn. Conclusion: This study concludes that the implementation of climate change education requires special attention because the challenges arise not only from educators but also from the weak education system in Indonesia, which creates disparities between regions. Novelty/Originality of this article: The study highlights the limited awareness of the Climate Change Education Guidebook among educators, despite its integration potential within the independent curriculum. This research contributes new insights into the practical challenges of implementing climate education in Indonesia and emphasizes the urgency of targeted training to strengthen both teacher readiness and student motivation

Impact of climate change on environmental health: Challenges and opportunities to improve quality of life

oai:ojs2.journal-iasssf.com:article/376Global climate change has become an urgent and complex issue in this modern era. In addition to its broad impact on the environment, climate change also has significant implications for human health. This article describes the relationship between climate change and environmental health, and identifies challenges and opportunities in addressing its impacts. Research shows that climate change is contributing to increasing global temperatures, extreme weather patterns, and overall environmental change. These impacts can affect air, water and soil quality, and increase the risk of communicable diseases, allergies, respiratory diseases and other chronic diseases. In addition, climate change can also affect food availability, food security, and the distribution of disease vectors such as mosquitoes that carry viruses. This presents new challenges in maintaining public health and dealing with threats related to climate change. However, amidst these challenges, there are also opportunities to improve quality of life and reduce the negative impacts of climate change on environmental health. Implementation of mitigation and adaptation policies that focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, developing renewable energy, preventing air pollution, sustainable water management, and disease monitoring and control, are some of the steps that can be taken to protect public health. In addition, public education and awareness about the relationship between climate change and environmental health also needs to be increased. With a better understanding of these impacts, society can engage in collective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adopt sustainable practices, and protect environmental health

Perceptions of community on efforts to address waste and odor issues in Kali Sentiong: An evaluation of the waring fabric installation and water hyacinth planting initiatives

Background: Kali Sentiong, commonly known as Kali Item, is a river in Jakarta plagued by unresolved issues of waste and unpleasant odors. The Head of the Environmental Control and Regulation Division of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency reported that the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of Kali Item exceeds the standard threshold, measuring 16.43 ppm. This research aims to assess community perceptions regarding the management of Kali Item following the installation of the netting and the proposed planting of Water Hyacinth. Method: A qualitative approach with triangulation methods was employed for data collection, including interviews with selected respondents from the surrounding area and observations. Interview results revealed that some informants considered the netting effective in mitigating odors, while others believed both the netting and the Water Hyacinth would not effectively address the odor issues in Kali Item. Findings: Additionally, research findings indicate that the Fecal Coliform levels are 30,000 times above the permissible limits. The Jakarta Provincial Government has undertaken various initiatives to address these problems under the leadership of Fauzi Bowo, Jokowi, Basuki, and currently Anies. In preparation for the 2018 Asian Games, which attracted international guests, the government focused on Kali Item due to its proximity—less than one kilometer—to the Athletes’ Village, causing noticeable odors. The government installed a protective netting at a cost of IDR 560,000,000.00, but the netting deteriorated within a year due to damage caused by illegal waste dumping. This led to the removal of the netting and the introduction of a plan to plant Water Hyacinth (Eceng Gondok) in the river. However, the government's efforts to resolve the issues of Kali Item have not yet succeeded, largely due to the persistent problematic behavior of the community. This is suspected to be due to differing perceptions of the government's initiatives

Climate change mitigation strategies in DESMA CENTER: Challenges, tourism's role, and community engagement

Background: Climate change is a significant phenomenon that affects both humans and nature, driven by both natural processes and human activities, with the latter playing a major role. Addressing this issue requires strategic interventions, particularly from organizations engaged in environmental advocacy. This study aims to analyze and elaborate on the meaning, strategies, and challenges in climate change mitigation efforts undertaken by DESMA CENTER. Methods: This research employs a qualitative method with a case study approach, utilizing qualitative data collected from January 4 to June 30, 2023. Data were obtained through interviews with representatives from three divisions within DESMA CENTER: top management (deputy director and co-founder), the communication unit (communication officer), and the program unit (program officer). Findings: The study identifies four strategic approaches implemented by DESMA CENTER in addressing climate change: internal strategies, external strategies, action strategies, and communication strategies. These strategies are integral to the organization’s efforts in mitigating climate change and advocating for sustainable tourism practices. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for DESMA CENTER to amplify its environmental advocacy efforts and provide objective insights into the impacts of tourism on environmental degradation, as well as its potential role in conservation. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study offers a comprehensive analysis of an environmental organization’s strategic approach to climate change mitigation in the tourism sector, providing insights into effective advocacy and intervention models

Analysis of managers' and local communities' perceptions in implementing ecotourism principles at Wana Wisata Ranca Upas

Background: Ecotourism that involves local communities promotes active participation, recognizing their indigenous knowledge of nature and cultural heritage as a potential tourism attraction. Community engagement is thus a crucial aspect of ecotourism development. However, differences in perception between stakeholders can influence the effectiveness of its implementation. Methods: This study employs a qualitative paradigm with a post-positivist philosophy to analyze the phenomenon in a natural setting. The research relies on qualitative strategies, where the researcher acts as the main instrument. Data collection was conducted using triangulation, and the analysis follows an inductive approach, emphasizing depth of understanding over generalization. Findings: The findings indicate that Wana Wisata Ranca Upas’ management does not solely focus on commercial aspects but also prioritizes environmental sustainability, community education, and socio-economic benefits for the local population. Community motivation to participate in ecotourism varies, with some seeing it as a significant source of income. Management’s perception aligns with Perhutani’s vision and mission, ensuring that ecotourism principles are upheld alongside economic sustainability. However, local communities have limited understanding of ecotourism concepts, leading to disparities in knowledge between managers and residents. Factors influencing these differing perceptions include access to information, background, interests, decision-making processes, and trust. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for improved community awareness and education regarding ecotourism principles to bridge the knowledge gap between managers and local residents. Novelty/Originality: This research provides insights into the perception gap between stakeholders in ecotourism implementation and identifies key factors influencing these differences, contributing to better community-based ecotourism management strategies

Managing medical waste in the context of environmental security during COVID-19 in Indonesia

One form of non-military threat that is currently occurring is a disease outbreak, namely the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from having an impact on the health sector, the COVID-19 pandemic also has an impact on the environmental sector. Some of the negative impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic include an increase in medical waste. The aim of this research is to examine and describe Managing Medical Waste in the Context of Environmental Security during COVID-19 in Indonesia. This research used a descriptive method and a qualitative approach. The data sources are secondary data (journals, archives, books, documents). The data collection technique is a literature study, with the data analysis used being bibliographic analysis. The results are there is a 30% - 50% increase in medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Therefore, Understanding related regulations on environmental pollution due to the accumulation of medical waste is still limited. Regulations related to environmental pollution have not been able to reach the wider public. So, The usage of a comprehensive and medical waste management strategy has to be accelerated. Cautious planning and strict usage of standards, methods, and rules on how to dispose of medical waste need to be implemented. In making decisions on that, governments and stakeholders ought to consider both environmental security as much as the human security perspectives of the population

Analisis pengelolaan limbah oli bekas pada pelaku usaha bengkel mobil di Kelurahan Cipamokolan Kota Bandung

This study aims to analyze the management of hazardous and toxic waste (B3), specifically used oil waste, generated by small automobile workshops in Cipamokolan Village. The disposal of used oil into the environment can have negative impacts, such as soil infertility, plant death, and health issues for the surrounding community. This research employs a qualitative method with data collection through observation, interviews, and questionnaire distribution. The data analysis technique utilizes a triangulation approach, which includes data collection, data analysis, verification, and conclusion drawing. Data verification is conducted through confirmation from research subjects, data analysis, and validation by expert faculty members. The research is carried out by observing two randomly selected small automobile workshops in Cipamokolan Village. The findings indicate that a portion of the used oil waste is handed over to oil collection services, while the remaining portion is used as a lubricant for compressor machines. Therefore, there is a need for educational efforts to enhance the understanding of automobile workshop operators regarding the management of used oil waste. It is expected that these efforts will improve the awareness of automobile workshop operators in relation to the handling of used oil waste, thereby reducing the negative impact of environmental pollution

Peningkatan biodiversitas tanaman melalui optimalisasi ruang terbuka hijau di kampus Sekolah Ilmu Lingkungan Universitas Indonesia

Introduction: In order to minimize the impact of global warming, efforts need to be made to reduce the concentration of CO2 gas in the air. Among them are planting and reforestation. We will analyze efforts to increase biodiversity through the optimization of Green Open Space on the campus of the University of Indonesia School of Environmental Sciences in Salemba, Jakarta. Methods: This research uses a qualitative approach in the context of green open space. The analysis method focuses on in-depth understanding, interpretation, and description of the qualities, characteristics, and experiences associated with green open space. Finding: the addition of Green Open Space in the SIL UI Campus area can be done with alternatives that are suitable for building conditions in densely populated areas in urban areas, namely with vertical gardens and rooftop gardens. This is done because the land area is limited so that Green Open Space is optimized vertically (towards the top) of the SIL UI building. Conclusion: the Green Open Space optimization program at SIL UI Salemba Campus can increase plant diversity by ten plant species. In addition, the resulting economic impact is also significant