Mengeruk Emas, Menimbun Cemas: Keretakan Hubungan Manusia dan Lingkungan Sungai di Kabupaten Gunung Mas

Since the rampant gold mining has had an impact on the ecosystem and social functions of rivers, this has become the initial cause of the rift between humans and the river environment. This research aims to describe the form of rift between humans and the river environment in the Kurun District, Gunung Mas Regency. This research uses a qualitative approach with a phenomenological type of research. Data collection techniques use disguised and participatory observation, as well as semi-structured interviews and documentation. This research shows that in the past, the relationship between society and the river environment went well. Now this relationship is experiencing a rift due to massive gold mining. This causes degradation of the river ecosystem, and the river does not function properly. The research concludes that the development of the times has made technology a means of production in exploiting nature. This is what gives rise to the pragmatic nature of humans, which is to enrich themselves beyond the necessities of life. So humans have a strong capitalist character in viewing the river environment as an economic resource. Currently, nature has been exploited, showing degraded physical conditions. This has an impact on the value of the river's social function, decreasing, as well as bringing about a disaster phenomenon as a response from nature to humans or humans being exploited by nature. Humans need to change the mindset that is still accumulative regarding the use of nature (rivers), namely by getting guidance in gold mining management from the government so that they have insight into a sustainable environment.