Ritual, ecology, and climate change: An ethnoecological study of agricultural communities in East Java

Abstract

This article investigates the adaptive functions of agricultural rituals in East Java, with a particular focus on their role as ecological knowledge systems in the context of climate change. Drawing on an ethnoecological framework, the study examines how practices such as Sedekah Bumi, Petik Laut, and Tumpeng Sewu are embedded in agricultural decision-making, resource governance, and cultural resilience. Fieldwork was conducted between March and July 2024 across six regencies, Banyuwangi, Malang, Lumajang, Jember, Bondowoso, and Kediri, using participant observation, in-depth interviews with 42 informants, and document analysis. The data were analyzed thematically to capture how rituals transmit ecological knowledge, adapt to environmental variability, and negotiate tensions between preservation and innovation. The findings show that rituals function as vehicles of ecological stewardship, shaping agricultural calendars, reinforcing communal norms, and providing intergenerational education. At the same time, they are being recalibrated in response to climate variability and socio-economic change, with innovations such as integration into tourism and digital platforms. However, these adaptive processes also expose contradictions, as modernization and commodification risk eroding ritual meanings and participation. The study concludes that rituals are dynamic institutions mediating between tradition and adaptation, offering critical insights into resilience in agrarian societies. It argues that policy frameworks should recognize ritual traditions as integral to sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation, while future research should explore comparative and longitudinal dimensions of ritual transformation.

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