Building Ecological Awareness: Ecotheology Education Efforts at Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School

This article aims to analyze the implementation of religious value-based waste management at Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School and to identify the level of understanding and educational needs required to strengthen environmental awareness among students. This research is significant because the increasingly complex ecological crisis has generated various environmental challenges, including within Islamic boarding schools, thereby requiring systematic efforts that integrate ecological responsibility with Islamic teachings. Through this approach, environmental awareness is understood not only as a social obligation but also as a moral and spiritual responsibility for Muslims. This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis. The collected data were analyzed using the Environmental Awareness Model (EAM) framework to examine the cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of environmental awareness. Based on field findings, Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School has established a strong cognitive and affective foundation through initiatives such as the Tebuireng Waste Bank (BST), the Waste Education for Santri Tebuireng (WEST) program, and the integration of eco-theological values into character development. However, a gap remains in the behavioral dimension, as environmentally friendly practices have not yet been fully internalized as a collective culture consistently adopted by all students. Ultimately, by demonstrating the strategic potential of Islamic educational institutions in fostering sustainable ecological piety, this research contributes to strengthening the discourse on pesantren-based environmental management while providing recommendations for developing more effective educational programs through the integration of religious values, character formation, and sustainable waste management practices.