Analysis of Ecotourism, Culture and Local Community Empower­ment: Case Study of Wasur National Park - Indonesia

The focus of this research lies in community empowerment based on culture and local communities as well as sustainable ecotourism,which is directed at a complicated mechanism of empowerment elements,local culture that is thick in ecotourism to get added value for the novelty of ecotourism research.The object of research is Wasur National Park(WNP),Papua,Indonesia.Qualitative methods have been used to obtain accurate data and information,i.e.,in-depth interviews with indigenous people to find out the benefits or functions of their culture that can be developed in ecotourism,interviews with leaders and staff of WNP and the Department of Culture and Tourism to find out the potential and processes empowerment and existing tourism potential.As a result,from the perspective of empowerment,local people will easily follow the empowerment process provided that they use methods that are culturally appropriate which is from the viewpoints from the culture of sasi,totem and sacred places.The culture adopted by the community is in accordance with the principles of ecotourism that supports sustainability,environmental conservation,protection of environmental resources and increases economic value.However,it is recommended to carry out modified socialization in accordance with the current conditions.Hence,tourists who visit WNP do not become afraid of the very rigid sanctions which are applied to them who violate the existing cultural and environmental customs.Moreover,to get added economic value in the tourism business within WNP,it is necessary to explore the potential of cultural wealth,natural and biological wealth so that it becomes the main attraction in carrying out the economic empowerment of local communities in the field of ecotourism.

Acceleration Factors in the Improvement of Public Welfare Sangiran

Efforts to preserve the cultural heritage are manifestation to represent the work of the ancestors of the past so that people can now take advantage of in accordance with destining. There are at least four major aspects of a cultural heritage can be appreciated to the public, as art, as an economic resource （for tourism and improve the welfare of the people in the region）, as a source of information as knowledge and social fulfillment. This study aims to determine： （1） acceleration factors in the improvement of social welfare Sangiran; and （2） modernization of infrastructure and the role of maximum revenue acceleration in accelerating improvements in public welfare in the Sangiran with the integrated approach of the factors increasing human development, community empowerment, provision of credit banking and employment opportunities. This research is a survey of the Sangiran area using data collection methods of documentation, interviews, and questionnaires. The population in this study is people in the Sangiran region, Central Java. This study uses cluster sampling with sampling. Cluster sampling is a probability sampling extracted by certain groups with similar characteristics. In this study, samples were grouped according to the residence of respondents. The sample used in this study was 500 respondents. The analysis technique used is structural equation modeling （SEM）. The results of this study show that： （1） the factors of human development, community empowerment, access to bank credit and employment opportunities to accelerate the improvement of social welfare in the Sangiran area; and （2） the acceleration of the increase in welfare Sangiran region can be achieved by an integrated approach of the factors increasing human development, community empowerment, bank lending and increase employment opportunities through increased infrastructure modernization and maximum income.

Rural Urban Sustainability in Malinalco, Mexico

Design of a rural-urban sustainable consists six small businesses that use appropriate technologies, human work and natural resources of the region. The six sustainable technological-economic activities will be localized in a single field, so, there is interaction between all activities and workers. The site also have to educate the surrounding communities to environmental issues. It is also a demonstration of how to improve the economic development of a region without damaging the environment. The proposal is to create a cooperative society with interested persons of the area and working groups for the six proposed technical and economic activities.

Geotourism Development in Post-mining Area

Generally,the morphology of the post-mining area is steep slopes.Based on geotechnical considerations,the area is no longer allowed for mining areas,because the potential for landslides is very high.The development of the natural potential of the post-mining area in the research area is a geotourism area in the form of outcrops of pumice breccias and karst areas.The positive impact on society is the opportunity to get a job or business opportunity in providing services.Geotourism is a sustainable nature tourism activity with a main focus on the geological appearance of the earth’s surface in order to encourage environmental and cultural understanding,appreciation and conservation as well as local wisdom.The concept of geotourism emphasizes the beauty,uniqueness and rarity of a natural phenomenon that is closely related to geological phenomena.The results of the study indicate the potential for geotourism that includes views of geological structures,stratigraphy,topography,rock types.Regional planning of geotourism is the making of a grand design for geotourism facilities and infrastructure,including a rock museum in the open air,gazebo,jogging track,hiking track,bicycle track,camping area,and viewpoint.

A Sri Lankan Development Communication Model： Use of Traditional Forms of Communication

This paper explores the potentials of traditional forms of communication in rural development communication. Experimenting a local development communication model that can be used at the grass-root level communication at the community development programs in Sri Lanka is the research objective. This study is a participatory research. Live participatory observation, impact analysis using a questionnaire and direct interview tools were used to analyze the impact of the creative model. This research study was experimented at Rasnayakapura divisional secretariat, Sri Lanka from 2004 to 2005. Results suggest that the traditional forms of communication can be utilized as a useful instrument in the rural community programs more than the dominant use of mass media and conventional use of small group communication. Forms of traditional communication are rich in communication because of their closeness to rural life, credibility, Utilization of familiar signs ＆ symbols, Participation of the same community, collective presentation, Utilization of past experiences, plot and the stories from their own life and psychological understanding （attraction, attention, rationality）. Communicating a message through entertainment was the practice of this model. Finally impact analysis confirmed the success of the model.

Integrated vector control of Chagas disease in Guatemala: a case of social innovation in health

Background:Improved access to health care and quality of services require integrated efforts and innovations,including community empowerment and participation in transformation processes.Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease that is generally controlled by insecticide spraying.To achieve community empowerment in a health program,actions for social innovations may include:community-based research,interdisciplinary and intersectoral participation,community perception of direct benefits and participation in health or environmental improvements.The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the processes by which an interdisciplinary team,in collaboration with communities of Comapa,Guatemala,developed an effective solution to address the risk for Chagas disease.Methods:A qualitative study involving interviews semi-structured and direct observation was conducted using a case study approach to describe and understand the community-based research and intervention process developed by researchers from the Laboratory of Applied Entomology and Parasitology of the Universidad de San Carlos of Guatemala(Laboratorio de Entomologia y Parasitologia Aplicada).Nine interviews were conducted with the investigators,innovators,members of the community in which the intervention had been implemented.NVivo software(version 12)was used for the emergent coding and analysis of the interviews.Results:Processes of social transformation were evident within households,and the communities that transcended the mere improvement of walls and floors.New social dynamics that favored the household economy and conditions of hygiene and home care that positively impacted the health of the community.We describe how the integration of criteria of social innovation into a home improvement strategy for Chagas disease control,can generate processes of transformation in health by considering sociocultural conditions,encouraging dialogue between public health approaches and traditional practices.We identify and discuss processes for Social Innovations in Health and identify their potential in improving community health in Latin America.Conclusions:When social innovation criteria are included in a health control initiative,the community-based research and the interdisciplinary and intersectoral participation facilitate the implementation of the control strategy,the perceived benefits by the community and its empowerment to sustain and share the strategy.The case study provided understanding of the intersectoral and interdisciplinary dynamics in particular contexts,and documented the relevance of innovation criteria in health processes.