University Students’ Perceptions of Common-Resource Dilemmas – the Need for Adjusted Curriculum in Indonesia

Abstract

Many of Indonesia's forest resources are degraded by over-utilisation due to de facto resources that are common property in the open-access areas. Consequences include social, economic, ecological, cultural as well as worldwide repercussions on resource degradation. The purpose of this study is to examine the pre-concepts of Indonesian biology student teachers and agronomy students on local resource conservation issues – overexploited common-resource dilemmas in Central Sulawesi, especially of the non-timber forest product, rattan. Nineteen future teachers and agricultural advisors at Tadulako University were interviewed. Qualitative results showed that students' pre-conceptions of resource depletion of rattan use were widely erroneous. Socio-economic impacts of over-exploitation on rural livelihoods were also not emphasised. The students do not recognise the need to balance short-term individual exploitation benefits with long-term community interests in resource conservation. Education is a long-term solution to solve this common-resource situation (in open-access situations) in order to ensure sustainable long-term resource utilisation. We conclude that socio-economic and institutional aspects of rural forest use need to be stressed in adjusted curricula development.