Analysis of local knowledge in building environmental and disaster resilience on the slopes of Mount Lawu

Abstract Indonesia’s rich ancestral heritage reflects a harmonious relationship between humans and nature, evident in how rural communities adapt to environmental risks. However, modernization and land-use changes increasingly threaten the continuity of these practices. When development policies are disconnected from such traditions, they lose effectiveness in fostering collective resilience. This study explores local knowledge in Kerjo Subdistrict, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, through a qualitative phenomenological approach in human geography. Data were collected via interviews with seven key informants and community documentation. The analysis included familiarization, coding, categorization, and interpretation to identify the form, role, and transmission of local knowledge in disaster adaptation. Findings were validated through literature triangulation and reconfirmation with informants to ensure accuracy and authenticity. The results reveal that disaster resilience is constructed through interrelated dimensions of local knowledge: (1) 21.24 hectares in Kerjo District fall within a high landslide hazard zone; (2) ecological-agricultural practices, such as the use of galeng , larikan , and kedukan systems for soil and water conservation; (3) socio-cultural traditions like Bersih Dusun rituals that reinforce environmental awareness and social solidarity; and (4) collective responses to hazards, including gotong royong during landslides and post-disaster recovery through planting andong trees and elephant grass ( Pennisetum purpureum ) to stabilize slopes. These findings show that local knowledge serves both as a cultural asset and an adaptive strategy, strengthening environmental resilience through the integration of physical, ecological, and social dimensions. The study underscores the importance of incorporating local wisdom into disaster risk reduction and sustainable rural development planning.