Compatibility, Effectiveness and Sustainability of Grass-Root Collaboration in Promoting Environmental and Natural Resource Conservation (An Evaluative Analysis)

Abstract

Environmental and natural resource conservation requires collaborative works among the actors who care about environment and natural resources. The objective of research is to evaluate collaboration viewed from compatibility, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. The method used was qualitative research type with participatory evaluation. Meanwhile, data collection was obtained through in-depth interview and observation, document study, and FGD (Focus Group Discussion). Sampling was conducted using purposive sampling technique, in which the actors involved in collaborative work for environment and natural resource conservations. Batu City, East Java was selected to be the location of research, recalling that collaborative activities develop in this city. The findings of research are explained as follows. Collaborative actors are campus, community, and non-government organization. Collaboration is manifested into campaign and education. Incentive, form, social learning, and multiplayer effect are the character of collaboration. Incentive includes restlessness and shared interest in environment conservation. Social learning gives the actors an opportunity to cooperate with each other and multiplayer effect character is that one activity will be followed with the next activity. Some activities are not implemented with without matured plan. Evaluation finds the strengths of collaboration are conservation activity in accordance with the people's need, and effectiveness and efficiency (being executed well), while its weakness collaboration contains minimum creativity, thereby degrading. The character of subsistent community leads to the difficulty in infusing knowledge and expectation as the sustainable grass-root movement. Consequently, collaborative activity keeps away from grass-root environment that controls the state policy.