Community-Based Landscape Intervention for Informal Waste Site Restoration Using Telajakan-Inspired Ecological Design...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Urban Ecology
• Community Development

Background:

• Unmanaged waste in urban areas presents significant environmental and social issues, particularly in Southeast Asia.
• Informal waste sites degrade urban landscapes and impact community well-being.
• Restoration efforts in low-resource settings require culturally relevant and participatory approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a community-based landscape intervention for restoring an informal waste site in Pekanbaru, Indonesia.
• To assess whether participatory restoration can drive behavioral change and maintain ecological function.
• To test a culturally adapted, telajakan-inspired ecological design in an under-resourced urban environment.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a 50m² intervention involving 105 residents, including workshops, waste removal, soil enhancement, and planting native/ornamental species.
• Collected data via pre- and post-surveys, photographic documentation, and field observations over three months.
• Utilized statistical analyses (paired t-test, Chi-square test) to determine significance of changes.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements (p < 0.001) were observed in residents' environmental knowledge and participation levels.
• All planted species survived, and the site remained clean post-intervention.
• Continued community-led maintenance was established through monthly clean-up events.

Conclusions:

• Integrating traditional landscape practices with community-based interventions can achieve behavioral change and ecological restoration.
• The study provides a replicable, culturally grounded framework for informal waste site restoration in under-resourced urban areas.
• Findings have implications for participatory sustainability and environmental justice in the Global South.