Preventing illegal sand mining through community-based environmental education in Buton’s coastal ecosystem

Illegal sand mining poses a serious threat to coastal ecosystems and brings legal and socio-economic risks to surrounding communities. Despite existing regulations—such as Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining—public awareness remains low. This study evaluates the impact of communitybased legal counseling on improving knowledge and awareness among 24 individuals engaged in unlicensed sand mining in Wasaga Village, Buton Regency. Using a one-group pre-test and post-test design, participants’ understanding of environmental impacts, legal frameworks, and sustainable practices was measured. Results show a notable improvement, with average test scores rising from 45% to 85%. Additionally, many participants demonstrated increased concern for coastal sustainability and expressed a willingness to stop illegal mining activities. The findings suggest that integrating legal education with environmental awareness can foster behavioral change and strengthen community involvement in environmental protection. Participatory legal counseling emerges as a practical and impactful tool to support grassroots environmental governance in coastal regions.