Model of community empowerment in utilizing Purun (Eleocharis dulcis) resources for sustainable handicrafts in Indonesia's rural peatland communities

Abstract

Peatlands have served a crucial ecological and economic purpose for a very long time. Purun (Eleocharis dulcis) is a common plant that grows in peat bogs and contributes to the community. Its population is diminishing, however, due to changes in land management and environmental damage. The concept of communal empowerment was inspired by the sustainability of Purun weaving as a craft enterprise. We adopted a qualitative research methodology with a descriptive approach, comprising interviews, focus group discussions, and documentation, for data collection. Community craft activities have become a "safety valve" for rural community economies, according to our research. Nonetheless, by overcoming the difficulties, these advantages might be utilized again. A cross-generational approach to sustainable craft practices can provide a forum for discussion of the values and perspectives of cultural heritage and the environment. As a result of these findings, the Social, Ecology, and Regulation model is the community empowerment paradigm for the use of resources as sustainable handicrafts, in which the community, affiliated organizations and agencies, and local governments define the total decision-making process. In the areas of ecology, education, and regulation, the government works as a supporter and enforcer.