Entangled ecologies: oral traditions, spirits, and the sustainability of mangrove landscapes in Southeast Seram Islands, Indonesia

This study examines sustainable models of mangrove management and utilization practiced by communities in the Southeast Seram islands, Eastern Indonesia. The communities in the villages of Kwamor, Keffing, and Kellu, which use mangroves for economic purposes, possess ecological wisdom rooted in oral traditions that have helped preserve mangrove areas in excellent condition. Despite over three centuries of mangrove use for economic purposes, deforestation in these areas remains minimal. This research employed ethnographic approaches to explore the context in which these oral traditions emerged and evolved. To understand mangrove management practices, we draw on Nils Bubandt’s concept of the ‘non-secular Anthropocene,’ Anna Tsing’s notion of “entanglement,” and Fikret Berkes’ perspective on ‘traditional knowledge’. The main finding of the study is that sustainable mangrove ecosystems are supported not only by humans and environmental material environments but also by non-secular entities. The research was conducted from January to September 2023. The first data gathering visit took place from July 8 to 21, 2023, and the second from August 10 to 23, 2023.