Penguatan Kapasitas Komunitas melalui Relokasi Telur Penyu Lekang Di Pantai Loang

Abstrak

Community-based sea turtle conservation is often judged only by the number of hatchlings released,
although process quality, valid indicators, and sustained local capacity determine programme integrity. This
community engagement initiative aimed to strengthen the capacity of the Sahabat Penyu Loang (SAYANG)
community to assess nest risks, undertake selective relocation, monitor incubation, and document auditable
outcomes. A participatory-evaluative approach was applied to activities conducted at Loang Beach, Lembata
Regency, combining document audit, reconstruction of the activity pathway, cross-checking of aggregate data,
and development of a minimum monitoring instrument. Consistent evidence recorded 137 relocated eggs and
126 released hatchlings, corresponding to a release-to-relocated-egg proportion of 92.0%. The initiative’s
principal value lies in a shared workflow among the community, facilitators, and partners; correction of
indicator definitions; and a monitoring design linking relocation decisions to nest conditions and biological
outcomes. The model advances a humane form of engagement: local knowledge remains central to decisions,
while external support improves safety, data quality, and accountability. Sustainability requires a written
protocol, nest-level records, sand-temperature monitoring, post-hatch excavation, and proportionate pre-post
capacity assessment.