Biology undergraduate student team from the Faculty of Biology UGM class of 2022 namely Nur Farah Susilowati and Iqlima Safitri have achieved the second place in The Science Writing Competition “ Gebyar Ilmiah Science (GIS) 11th version 2023 held by Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science Surabaya State University with the final presentation held on October 15, 2023. The team took sum theme etnosains with the title “Local Wisdom as Action Means: Adapting Mane’e and Eha Traditions in North Sulawesi to Reduce Exploitation of Marine Natural Resources,” addressed the exploitation of marine ecosystems, particularly the excessive and environmentally unfriendly exploitation of marine resources. This exploitation often leads to habitat degradation and supports the extinction of species. Their scientific paper was aimed to analyze the utilization of the Eha and Mane’e traditions in addressing exploitation in South Sulawesi. Their goal was to adapt these traditions into other fishing methods and make them effective instruments in dealing with exploitation while integrating traditional knowledge and modern policies into a sustainable approach. Their intention was to aid in preserving the natural environment and strengthening community well-being.
Their scientific paper was composed using a literature review approach aimed to analyze the topic and issues through a descriptive case study analysis. The Mane’e and Eha traditions highly uphold prohibitions against exploitation by considering harvest seasons and using simple fishing tools called Sam’mi. Involving the community in utilizing the Mane’e and Eha traditions not only preserves local wisdom but also ensures the sustainability of natural resources for future generations. The collaboration between the government, community, and other relevant stakeholders is crucial to ensure the effective and sustainable implementation of these traditions in supporting the quality and yield of natural resources. [Authors: Nur Farah Susilowati, Iqlima Safitri]