Traditional foodways and conservation beliefs among Javanese communities in the Paranggupito Karst, Indonesia

Abstract

This study explores the interconnections between food traditions, ritual practices, and biodiversity conservation among Javanese communities living in the karst landscape of Paranggupito, Central Java, Indonesia. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in three villages—Songbledeg, Gudangharjo, and Gunturharjo—the research documents the use of plant and animal species in both daily diets and ceremonial contexts. It highlights how traditional foods such as tumpeng, urap, tiwul, and nagasari require specific species that are cultivated, preserved, and protected across generations. Ritual events—including mitoni, nembung, rasulan, and commemorations of the deceased—emerge as cultural drivers of biodiversity conservation, reinforcing the need to maintain agroecological diversity. Moreover, the study reveals how sacred beliefs and taboos, such as the protection of white Java porcupines (Hystrix javanica) and Danyangan trees (Ficus spp.), shape informal yet potent conservation ethics. These beliefs, deeply rooted in spirituality and upheld by social norms, significantly contribute to the sustainability of species and landscapes without the need for external regulation. The findings underscore the invaluable role of integrating indigenous knowledge and cultural practices into modern conservation frameworks, particularly in ecologically fragile regions such as karst areas. By viewing food and ritual as conduits of ecological stewardship, the study presents a compelling model of biocultural resilience where cultural identity and environmental sustainability are mutually reinforcing.