Ethnoecological Potential of the Pomuan Indigenous Customary Law as a Biology Learning Resource

¹ Universitas Lancang Kuning, Biology Department, Faculty of Forestry and Science, 28261 Pekanbaru, Indonesia
² Padang State University, Science Education Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, 25171 Padang, Indonesia
³ Universitas Lancang Kuning, Biology Education Department, Faculty of Education and Vocational Studies, 28261 Pekanbaru, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: martalasari@unilak.ac.id

Abstract

Schools are strategic settings for integrating local wisdom into scientific learning, particularly through ethnoecology, which links community knowledge and environmental management to biological concepts. This study aims to identify the ethnoecological potential within the Ghimbo Pomuan Indigenous customary law that can be utilized as a resource for biology learning. A descriptive qualitative method with observation, interviews, and documentation using a snowball sampling technique was applied. The results show that Ghimbo Pomuan contains strong ethnoecological elements, reflected in biodiversity, indigenous customary law regulations, resource-use practices, and community-based conservation activities, such as kelulut honey cultivation (Trigona sp.). These findings indicate that the forest holds substantial potential for contextual biology learning aligned with SDGs 4, 11, and 15 through place-based education, environmental ethics, and conservation-oriented learning activities. Although the forest has been used by university researchers, its application in school-level learning remains limited. This study highlights the need to develop structured teaching materials based on local wisdom to support the integration of ethnoecology into biology education.