Pandemics and Sustainable Human Nature Relations: A Case study in Baduy Community, South Banten, Indonesia

Abstract

In the past, traditional people across cultures in the world in utilizing and managing natural resources and the environment were based on the local knowledge (LK) or Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and embedded with culture, so that the environment was avoided from damage. Today, as a result of changes in human behavior towards the environment, it has caused various environmental damages and the emergence of pandemic diseases, such as the Covid-19. This article elucidates the relationship between human and natures and environmental changes that have caused emergence of pandemic diseases, including Covid-19. Various efforts have been undertaken by the Indonesian government to cope Covid-19. For example, to prevent the widespread spread of Covid-19 in society, the Indonesian government has recommended every individual to implement the standard health protocols, such as by applying ‘three m’: menjaga jarak (physical distancing), mencuci tangan dengan sabun (washing hands with soap), and menggunakan masker (wearing masks). Culturally, most of the rural communities in Indonesia initially have a tradition of maintaining health in the family based on local knowledge and strongly embedded by culture, as shown by the traditional people of Baduy community who reside in Village of Kanekes, South Banten. Therefore, the authors suggest that various multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary studies, including the Ethnobiology study, should be carried out more intensively in Indonesia because the results of these studies can be useful for the development of science, and the practical results could be used to integrate with Western scientific knowledge to support various sustainable development programs, such as disaster management, including pandemics that are caused by viruses due to environmental changes..

Ethnomedicinal Aspects of Sundanese Traditional Homegarden: A Case Study in Rural Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia

“…In general, the treatment of illnesses using various medicinal plants as practiced by the Cibunar community, is also commonly carried out in some village communities in West Java and Banten. For example, based on study ethnobotanical study in Ranggawulung area, Subang Regency, West Java, it was documented 19 illness types with traditional treated by applying 32 medicinal plants (Putri et al, 2016); in Karangwangi Village, Cianjur, West Java recorded 27 illness type by applying 114 medicinal plants (Malini et al, 2017); in Cikondang, Pangalengan, Bandung District, West Java recorded 12 illness types by treating 35 medicinal plants (Kodir et al, 2017), West Java; in Bodogol area-Sukabumi, West Java, recorded 32 illness types by applying 93 medicinal plants (Susiarti et al, 2018); and in Baduy, Kanekes Village, Banten, recorded 27 ilness by 132 medicinal plants (Iskandar, 2021).…”

“…These species are predominantly found in the homegarden system that are caused by many factors, including can tolerate overstorey shade of other perennial plants and will not cause reducing of quality and quantity factor (Rao and Rao, 2006;Iskandar and Iskandar, 2016). In addition, various species of Zingiberaceae family has commonly used as medical hamlet (ubar kampung) by Sundanese rural people of West Java and Banten (Ambaretnani, 2012;Nisyapuri et al, 2018;Fitrianti and Partasasmita, 2020;Iskandar, 2021;Ramadhani et al, 2021).…”

Kawung: Landraces, management, uses, and conservation based on moral versus economic interest among Outer Baduy community, South Banten, Indonesia

“…then boiled in a pan on fire stove in the kitchen. Then, the boiled water can be drunk to recover the tired body (Iskandar and Iskandar 2005;Iskandar 2021).…”

“…Among the plant species of the Arecaceae family, sugar palm (A. pinnata) is known as one of the multipurpose trees (MPTs) for the rural communities in Indonesia. Sugar palm provides social, economic and cultural benefits to rural communities in various parts of Indonesia, for example, the production of palm sugar, palm wine (tuak), sweetmeat (kolang kaling), palm flour (sagu), roof material, palm fiber brooms, stick brooms, cigarette paper, traditional medicine, botanical pesticide, and traditional ceremonial materials (Fatriani et al 2012;Iskandar and Iskandar 2017;Amrul et al 2018;Anwar 2018;Erawan et al 2018;Azhar et al 2019;Sujarwo et al 2020;Iskandar 2021;Ratnani et al 2021;Withaningsih et al 2021).…”