Community understanding and recommendations for sea turtle conservation amidst life-threatening risks on Buru Island

Buru Island’s rich coastal ecosystems serve as critical habitats for endangered sea turtles, such as the leatherback, green turtle, hawksbill, and olive ridley, which frequently nest and forage along its coasts. The aim of this study was to assess the community’s understanding of sea turtle conservation efforts and provide recommendations to improve conservation initiatives in the face of life-threatening risks. Using a Likert scale to ensure data validity, this study employed semi-structured interviews and a random sampling method, engaging the communities of two key regions: Kecamatan Fena Leisela in Kabupaten Buru and Kecamatan Kepala Madan in Kabupaten Buru Selatan. These findings reveal significant knowledge gaps regarding the ecological service and regulatory importance of sea turtle conservation among local populations. While most residents in Kecamatan Fena Leisela demonstrate awareness and support for conservation efforts, the majority in Kecamatan Kepala Madan possess only basic knowledge but lack active participation in conservation. This is evidenced by ongoing illegal poaching activities for personal consumption and local trade involving both eggs and turtle body parts. Furthermore, turtle habitats in these regions face severe threats from marine debris and the destruction of nesting grounds due to ongoing local sand mining activities.