YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN ECOTOURISM AND COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPMENT: PAHAWANG ISLAND, INDONESIA

Summary

This presentation explores youth engagement in ecotourism and community-based development, focusing on Bahawang Island, Indonesia. The research examines how local youth practices have influenced sustainable tourism by blending conservation efforts with economic opportunities. The study highlights youth-led initiatives aimed at revitalizing ecotourism and restoring the island’s environment, showcasing their ability to bridge gaps in governance and work with local and external stakeholders. By emphasizing community capacity-building, youth are seen as key agents in fostering resilience and promoting bottom-up governance in ecotourism, driving social and environmental change despite limited support from the state.

Takeaways

• 😀 Youth in Kalangan Hamlet, Pahawang Island are leading efforts to restore ecotourism with a focus on environmental conservation.
• 🌱 Ecotourism is defined as nature-based tourism that also supports community development and conservation goals.
• 📚 The research explores the role of youth in transforming ecotourism practices using social innovation and community capacity building.
• 🔄 Dynamized Community Capacity Building (DCCB) combines social innovation and community empowerment to address local challenges.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Youth in Kalangan have bridged gaps in governance by connecting local communities, governments, and external stakeholders.
• ⚖️ Bottom-link governance, which connects grassroots initiatives with higher levels of governance, plays a crucial role in community-driven ecotourism.
• 🌍 The study emphasizes that environmental conservation can be aligned with economic opportunities in ecotourism.
• 🌊 The youth-led initiatives include activities like coral restoration, mangrove planting, and conservation-based tourism activities.
• ⏳ The island faced environmental degradation and tourism-focused economic shifts that neglected sustainable practices, which the youth are now addressing.
• 🎓 The youth have built partnerships with academic institutions and local authorities, including the navy, to enhance their conservation efforts.
• 📉 Despite limited government support, the youth of Kalangan Hamlet have independently developed ecotourism initiatives to support local livelihoods and environmental sustainability.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the paper presented in the transcript?

The paper focuses on youth engagement in ecotourism and community-based development, specifically drawing lessons from Bahawang Island, Indonesia.

What is the research question addressed in the paper?

The research question explores to what extent and how young people's special practices help differentiate and expand bottom-up governance in community-based ecotourism over time and space.

What are the key concepts discussed in the paper?

The paper mobilizes concepts such as social innovation, bottom-up governance, youth engagement, and dynamized community capacity building.

How does the paper define dynamized community capacity building?

Dynamized community capacity building is the intersection of community capacity building practices with social innovation, where the goal is not to avoid conflict but to address and resolve deep-rooted problems within the community.

How was the data for the research collected?

The data was collected through 12 interviews (out of 54), documentary research, and observation. The research also involved a long-term relationship with the case study area.

What significant historical context does the paper provide about Bahawang Island?

Before 1995, Bahawang Island was largely unknown, and the inhabitants had limited understanding of environmental issues, living mainly as subsistence fishermen without recognizing the impact of their activities on the environment.

What challenges did Bahawang Island face before the introduction of ecotourism?

The island faced challenges such as illiteracy, environmental ignorance, and a lack of coordinated economic activities. Its inhabitants survived through basic fishing activities without awareness of environmental degradation.

What role did the youth play in revitalizing ecotourism on Bahawang Island?

The youth in Kalangan Hamlet took the initiative to rejuvenate ecotourism by focusing on environmental conservation, such as coral restoration and mangrove planting, while also ensuring economic opportunities for the community.

What did the youth of Kalangan Hamlet do to address environmental issues?

The youth led efforts such as coral restoration, mangrove planting, and clean-up activities, turning these conservation actions into structured community programs aligned with economic ventures.

How does the paper define 'bottom-up governance'?

Bottom-up governance refers to a model where local communities, especially youth, actively participate in decision-making processes, bridging gaps between local and national levels, and balancing local priorities with external demands.

What is the paper's conclusion regarding the role of the youth in ecotourism and governance?

The paper concludes that youth-led initiatives in Kalangan Hamlet have served as a transformative force in promoting sustainable ecotourism and have effectively navigated governance gaps, fostering resilience and participatory governance in the community.