ECOLOGICAL COMMUNICATION MODEL IN THE HALAL USE OF FOREST RESOURCES IN THE KAJANG TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY

Abstract

This research examines the model of ecological communication among the Kajang Indigenous People in South Sulawesi, which is based on the values of Pasang ri Kajang and the Islamic principle of halal. The Kajang Indigenous People views the forest as a sacred entity, collectively protected through a system of values, symbols, and customary social structures, particularly under the authority of the Ammatoa. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, this research explores the practices of ecological communication that are not only verbal but also symbolic and ritualistic. The research found that the Kajang values in managing forest resources are closely linked to the concept of halal from the perspective of eco-sufism. The findings reveal that values such as kamase-masea (living modestly), the prohibition of excessive exploitation, and customary taboos serve as mechanisms for internalizing conservation ethics. Four main dimensions of ecological communication were identified: value dimension, social structure dimension, media and symbol dimension, and social practice dimension. This model positions communication as a social and spiritual binding mechanism, where ecological messages are not only conveyed but also collectively embodied and practiced. The integration of halal values provides a universal ethical framework that is acceptable across belief systems and serves as a localized conservation approach. This model not only represents how the Kajang Indigenous People communicate with nature, but also offers a participatory and spiritual framework for developing conservation policies rooted in local wisdom and Islamic ethics. The findings expand the concept of halal into environmental contexts and open new avenues in cultural and spiritual-based environmental communication studies.