Eco-cultural pedagogy in practice: local wisdom, student engagement, and environmental responsibility in rural Indonesia

This study examines how eco-cultural values in local communities can inform culturally responsive and sustainability-oriented education in Indonesia. It focuses on how traditions, communal practices, and human–nature relationships shape environmental understanding and responsibility. Using a qualitative exploratory design, the research was conducted in eight eco-cultural communities in East Java, representing coastal, highland, agrarian, and mixed forest–agricultural settings. A total of 48 participants were purposively selected, including community elders, cultural practitioners, farmers, artisans, and local leaders with recognized ecological knowledge. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and reflective notes, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings identify six interconnected eco-cultural values: spiritual reverence for nature, communal harmony, sustainable resource stewardship, eco-cultural rituals and traditions, local knowledge transmission, and environmental ethics. These values show that ecological understanding is closely linked to cultural identity, moral frameworks, and shared community norms. The study highlights the potential of integrating eco-cultural perspectives into education to strengthen environmental literacy, cultural awareness, and responsible behavior. However, the research is limited to a single regional context and relies on qualitative interpretation, which may limit generalizability. Future research should include more diverse communities and examine how these values can be systematically integrated into curriculum and pedagogy.