Actualization of local community participation in critical land management in Gorontalo

Land use regardless of conservation treatments can cause lasting damage to cultivated land. This has resulted in land degradation and serious problems for community management of critical land. The aim of this research is to actualize local community participation in critical land management in Gorontalo. This study used a literature review and observational approach by conducting discussions with the rehabilitation community. Data analysis used descriptive qualitative, by conducting data acquisition including information gathering, reduction, presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the study show that: (a) photographing the sustainability of critical land rehabilitation can be initiated by providing a demonstration plot of sample gardens managed using a participatory method. This increases the responsibility and authority of local communities. Types of plants are selected based on community needs in fulfilling their daily needs and associated with traditional ceremonies; (b) brainstorming on community participation shows its attention to planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. In general, the community needs continuous assistance, socialization, and additional rehabilitation funds. The management process prioritizes the “Huyula” tradition, by mobilizing community leaders and the cooperation of various stakeholders in its actualization; and (c) the failure of the project-based rehabilitation idea has resulted in the reality of stagnation and weakening of local community authority. Participation maneuvers decreased dramatically with the restraint of top-down patterns. Therefore, the transformation is carried out by doing integrated management between various government and private sectors. More importantly, the community should be managed in the framework of empowerment, because the nature, uniqueness and characteristics of the community are different, which give rise to various social institutions. In Gorontalo, the huyula spirit and customary series can be a motivator in managing critical land rehabilitation and greening the environment. Therefore, this idea needs to be supported and the formation of academic papers and village regulations that can be binding in the implementation of rehabilitation