Community Participation in the Development of Sustainable, Environmentally Conscious Villages in the Cirasea Sub-Watershed, Indonesia

The establishment of green villages has been a key initiative of the Citarum Harum program since 2015 in order to address pollution in the Citarum watershed, particularly in the Cirasea sub-watershed. This program’s success depends largely on community involvement in planning and implementation. Thie aim of this study was to identify the extent of community participation in developing environmentally conscious hamlets in Cirasea. Using a mixed-methods approach—quantitative surveys followed by qualitative interviews and observations—data were collected from 10 villages. The findings show varying participation levels, influenced by socioeconomic conditions, program characteristics, environmental issues, and institutional support. Community involvement was assessed across the planning, implementation, benefit-taking, and evaluation stages. Participation was very extensive in decision-making and implementation, as well as in evaluation, but it was less satisfactory in benefit-taking. This research underscores the critical role of inclusive community engagement in ensuring the success and sustainability of environmental development programs.