The Ecological Politics of the Belu Community in Preserving Nature and Supporting Sustainable Development

Abstract

Political ecology is the relation between ecologically rooted social science and the principles of political economy and the reality of environment exploration. It aims to represent an alternative to apolitical ecology. The field synthesizes the central questions asked by the social sciences and ethics about the relations between human society and its bio-cultural-political complexity, and a significantly humanized nature. This article discourse the phenomenon on environment reality in Belu community, East Nusa Tenggara Province -Indonesia, especially the local community in Belu in relation with the environment. Research methods use phenomenological analyzes and literature review. Finding research that the local indigenous or community in Belu is doing political ecological to counter capitalism, strengthening indigenous local values, supporting sustainable development and protecting ecological justice. This finding can give inspiring to the local people in Indonesia and the other side of the world to take action to protect the environment and supporting sustainable development concept.