Environmental Communication in Marine Conservation: Reframing Kaombo as a Culturally Embedded System in Coastal Indonesia

Abstract

This study explores the role of environmental communication in marine conservation through the local wisdom of Kaombo in Wasuemba Village, Buton, Indonesia. Despite growing recognition of community-based conservation, the influence of culturally embedded communication systems on ecological behavior remains underexplored. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, focus group discussions, and document analysis involving 11 key informants selected via snowball sampling. The findings demonstrate that Kaombo functions not only as a traditional regulatory mechanism but also as an environmental communication system, where conservation values are transmitted through symbolic narratives, customary authority, and social practices. The Parabela plays a crucial role in legitimizing and disseminating environmental messages, while community compliance is driven by moral and social norms rather than formal enforcement. However, challenges in intergenerational knowledge transmission persist amid socio-cultural change. This study reconceptualizes Kaombo as an integrated environmental communication system and proposes the concept of moral-ecological governance. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating cultural values and local communication practices into sustainable marine conservation strategies.