COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION AND AWARENESS OF MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS IN COASTAL ACEH

Abstract

Abstrak: Ekosistem pesisir di Provinsi Aceh, Indonesia, merupakan habitat penting bagi burung air migran yang melintasi Jalur Terbang Asia Timur–Australasia (East Asian–Australasian Flyway). Namun, habitat tersebut semakin terancam oleh perburuan ilegal, gangguan manusia, dan rendahnya kesadaran masyarakat terhadap konservasi satwa liar. Kegiatan konservasi berbasis masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kesadaran konservasi masyarakat pesisir melalui intervensi media visual dan kegiatan penyadartahuan lingkungan. Program dilaksanakan pada bulan Mei hingga Desember 2023 di kawasan pesisir Kabupaten Aceh Besar dan Kota Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Kegiatan konservasi meliputi koordinasi dengan masyarakat lokal, penyuluhan kesadaran konservasi, diskusi informal, serta pemasangan satu spanduk larangan berburu di habitat pesisir strategis yang sering diakses oleh masyarakat dan nelayan. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi lapangan, dokumentasi, diskusi partisipatif, dan evaluasi kualitatif terhadap respons masyarakat terhadap pesan konservasi. Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan adanya respons positif masyarakat terhadap kampanye konservasi yang dilakukan. Masyarakat menunjukkan perhatian yang lebih besar terhadap informasi konservasi serta terlibat dalam diskusi mengenai perlindungan burung air migran dan isu perburuan ilegal. Pemasangan spanduk konservasi juga meningkatkan visibilitas media edukasi lingkungan di kawasan pesisir yang sebelumnya memiliki keterbatasan informasi konservasi. Meskipun penelitian ini masih terbatas pada evaluasi kualitatif jangka pendek, hasil kegiatan menunjukkan bahwa intervensi penyadartahuan berbasis masyarakat berpotensi mendukung pendidikan lingkungan dan mendorong partisipasi masyarakat lokal dalam konservasi burung air migran. Penguatan kolaborasi antara masyarakat, perguruan tinggi, dan organisasi konservasi penting dilakukan untuk menjaga keberlanjutan program kesadaran konservasi di ekosistem pesisir.

Abstract: Coastal ecosystems in Aceh Province, Indonesia, serve as important habitats for migratory waterbirds along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. However, these habitats are increasingly threatened by illegal hunting, human disturbance, and limited public awareness regarding wildlife conservation. This community-based conservation activity aimed to improve conservation awareness among coastal communities through visual awareness interventions and outreach activities. The program was conducted from May to December 2023 in coastal areas of Aceh Besar District and Banda Aceh City, Indonesia. Conservation activities included coordination with local communities, awareness outreach, informal discussions, and installation of one anti-hunting conservation banner in a strategic coastal habitat frequently accessed by local residents and fishermen. Data were collected through field observations, documentation, participatory discussions, and qualitative evaluation of community responses toward conservation messages. The results indicated positive community responses toward the conservation campaign. Local residents showed increased attention to conservation information and participated in discussions regarding migratory waterbird protection and illegal hunting issues. The installation of conservation banners also improved the visibility of environmental awareness media in coastal areas where conservation information had previously been limited. Although this study was limited to short-term qualitative evaluation, the findings demonstrate that community-based awareness interventions have the potential to support environmental education and encourage local participation in migratory waterbird conservation. Strengthening collaboration among communities, universities, and conservation organizations is important for sustaining conservation awareness programs in coastal ecosystems.