PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT LOKAL DALAM MONITORING TERUMBU KARANG MELALUI PROGRAM CITIZEN SCIENCE DI KAWASAN KONSERVASI PERAIRAN SERAM BAGIAN TIMUR

Abstract

Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems surrounding the East Seram Marine Protected Area are experiencing increasing degradation due to anthropogenic activities and climate change, while the local community of Waru Village has limited technical capacity to conduct standardized coral reef monitoring. This community service program, based on a citizen science approach, aimed to enhance community knowledge and technical skills in coral reef monitoring using the Point Intercept Transect (PIT) method, while establishing a community-based monitoring team to support the management of the marine protected area. The program was implemented through a participatory approach consisting of awareness-raising sessions, theoretical and practical training, and continuous mentoring. A total of 20 participants attended the training sessions, with 10 participants involved in the field practicum. Program effectiveness was evaluated using pre- and post-tests to assess participants' knowledge and observation-based skill checklists to evaluate technical competencies. The results demonstrated a substantial increase in average knowledge scores from 24.62% to 90.38% (an improvement of 65.76 percentage points). Participants' independent technical skills also improved significantly from 25% to 85% between the first and second mentoring cycles. The consistent improvement in both knowledge and technical competencies indicates that the citizen science approach is effective in strengthening the capacity of local communities to independently and sustainably conduct coral reef monitoring, while supporting more participatory and adaptive management of marine protected areas.

Keywords: coral reefs; citizen science; community empowerment; participatory monitoring; marine protected areas.

Abstrak

Ekosistem terumbu karang di sekitar Kawasan Konservasi Perairan Seram Bagian Timur mengalami tekanan degradasi akibat aktivitas manusia dan perubahan iklim, sementara masyarakat Desa Waru belum memiliki kapasitas teknis untuk melakukan monitoring secara terstandar. Program pengabdian berbasis citizen science ini bertujuan meningkatkan pengetahuan dan keterampilan masyarakat dalam monitoring terumbu karang menggunakan metode Point Intercept Transect (PIT), sekaligus membentuk kader monitoring komunitas untuk mendukung pengelolaan kawasan konservasi. Kegiatan dilaksanakan melalui pendekatan partisipatif yang meliputi sosialisasi, pelatihan teori-praktik, dan pendampingan lanjutan, diikuti oleh 20 peserta pelatihan dan 10 peserta praktik lapangan. Evaluasi dilakukan menggunakan pre-test/post-test untuk mengukur pengetahuan dan lembar observasi (skill checklist) untuk menilai keterampilan teknis peserta. Hasil menunjukkan peningkatan pengetahuan rata-rata dari 24,62% menjadi 90,38% (+65,76 poin persentase), serta keterampilan mandiri peserta meningkat dari 25% menjadi 85% antara siklus pendampingan pertama dan kedua. Konsistensi peningkatan pada kedua aspek tersebut menunjukkan bahwa pendekatan citizen science efektif membangun kapasitas masyarakat lokal untuk melaksanakan monitoring terumbu karang secara mandiri dan berkelanjutan, sekaligus mendukung tata kelola kawasan konservasi yang lebih partisipatif dan adaptif.

Kata kunci:  terumbu karang; citizen science; pemberdayaan masyarakat; monitoring partisipatif; kawasan konservasi perairan.