Community participation in cleanliness education to maintain the quality of river ecosystems in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/jocae.v4i1.2026.3864Keywords:
community participation, environmental education, participatory governance, river ecosystems, systematic literature reviewAbstract
Background: Indonesian river-management programs increasingly combine environmental education with community participation, but the evidence is fragmented and often conflates awareness, self-reported behavior, governance change, and ecological improvement. This review synthesized how river-focused environmental education relates to behavioral outcomes, the forms and depth of participation reported, and the social, institutional, and ecological outcomes of participatory river management. Methods: A PRISMA 2020 systematic literature review searched Google Scholar and ScienceDirect for publications from 2015-2025. Of 305 records identified, 15 studies were included: 12 Indonesian studies and three international empirical comparators. Evidence was synthesized narratively, appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool 2018, and interpreted through the Theory of Planned Behavior and Arnstein’s participation ladder. Findings: Most Indonesian studies described operational participation through clean-ups, campaigns, waste-management activities, planting, or monitoring. Partnership or community control was reported less often and was associated with multi-stakeholder facilitation, organizational access, local leadership, and culturally grounded practices. Knowledge, awareness, participation, and perceived institutional benefits were reported more frequently than sustained behavioral or ecological change. MMAT appraisal yielded three high-, six medium-, and six low-confidence contributions. Only one study directly measured water-quality parameters; therefore, the evidence does not establish that education or participation caused river-ecosystem improvement. Conclusion: Practical, place-based education and enabling institutional conditions were repeatedly associated with stronger participation, but ecological benefits remain uncertain. Interpretation is limited by two-database coverage, single-reviewer screening and appraisal, heterogeneous designs, the absence of meta-analysis, and scarce direct ecological measurement. Novelty/Originality of this article: The review provides an Indonesia-focused, quality-weighted framework that connects behavioral mechanisms with participation depth while keeping social, institutional, and directly measured ecological outcomes analytically distinct.
References
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Ajzen, I. (2020). The theory of planned behavior: Frequently asked questions. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2(4), 314–324. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.195
Alfala, S., & Nuraini, C. (2024). Partisipasi masyarakat dalam pengelolaan sumber daya air berkelanjutan di Karo. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Ilmu Teknik (PROSEMNASPROIT), 1(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.61132/prosemnasproit.v1i1.34
Alvarado-Arias, N., Soria-Delgado, J., Staines, J., & Moya-Almeida, V. (2025). Towards participatory river governance through citizen science. Water, 17(9), 1358. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17091358
Apipalakul, C., Wirojangud, W., & Ngang, T. K. (2015). Development of community participation on water resource conflict management. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 186, 325–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.048
Ardoin, N. M., Bowers, A. W., & Gaillard, E. (2020). Environmental education outcomes for conservation: A systematic review. Biological Conservation, 241, 108224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108224
Arnstein, S. R. (1969). A ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216–224. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944366908977225
Asmara, B., & Randhir, T. O. (2025). A mixed-methods assessment of the influence of palm plantations on water resources of Indigenous communities of Indonesian Papua. Global Environmental Change Advances, 5, 100018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecadv.2025.100018
Astomo, P. (2021). Partisipasi masyarakat dalam pengelolaan Daerah Aliran Sungai Mandar berorientasi lingkungan hidup. Mimbar Hukum, 33(1), 216–241. https://doi.org/10.22146/mh.v33i1
Baehaqi, A., & Alicia, N. P. (2025). Community involvement in Bandung river cleanup for flood control. Jurnal Pendidikan Teknik Bangunan, 5(1), 75–84. https://doi.org/10.17509/jptb.v5i1
Bamberg, S., & Möser, G. (2007). Twenty years after Hines, Hungerford, and Tomera: A new meta-analysis of psycho-social determinants of pro-environmental behaviour. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 27(1), 14–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2006.12.002
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
Brick, C., Nielsen, K. S., Berger, S., Henn, L., Wolske, K. S., Lange, F., Hanss, D., Bauer, J. M., Aldoh, A., Sachisthal, M. S. M., Šćepanović, S., & Cologna, V. (2024). Current research practices on pro-environmental behavior: A survey of environmental psychologists. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 97, 102375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102375
Buchori, I., Zaki, A., Pangi, P., Sejati, A. W., & Pramitasari, A. (2022). Adaptation strategies and community participation in government-led mitigation projects: A comparison between urban and suburban communities in Pekalongan, Indonesia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 81, 103271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103271
Chen, P. (2024). Unlocking policy effects: Water resources management plans and urban water pollution. Journal of Environmental Management, 365, 121642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121642
Daniel, D., Prawira, J., Djono, T. P. A., Subandriyo, S., Rezagama, A., & Purwanto, A. (2021). A system dynamics model of the community-based rural drinking water supply program (PAMSIMAS) in Indonesia. Water, 13(4), 507. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13040507
Dominguez-Rendón, E., Villada-Canela, M., & Muñoz-Pizza, D. M. (2024). Community strengthening through citizen monitoring of water quality: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 19(7), e0305723. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305723
Gibson, K. E., Lamm, A. J., Lamm, K. W., & Holt, J. (2023). Integrating the theory of planned behavior and motivation to explore residential water-saving behaviors. Water, 15(17), 3034. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15173034
Hidayaturahmi, H., Lubis, D. P., Adiwibowo, S., & Kartodihardjo, H. (2024). Development communication in the Ciliwung Bersih movement. JPPI (Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Indonesia), 10(1), 158–169. https://doi.org/10.29210/020242403
Hong, Q. N., Fàbregues, S., Bartlett, G., Boardman, F., Cargo, M., Dagenais, P., Gagnon, M.-P., Griffiths, F., Nicolau, B., O’Cathain, A., Rousseau, M.-C., Vedel, I., & Pluye, P. (2018). The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers. Education for Information, 34(4), 285–291. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-180221
Hove, J., D’Ambruoso, L., Kahn, K., Witter, S., van der Merwe, M., Mabetha, D., Tembo, K., & Twine, R. (2022). Lessons from community participation in primary health care and water resource governance in South Africa: A narrative review. Global Health Action, 15(1), 2004730. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.2004730
Hurlbert, M., & Gupta, J. (2024). The split ladder of participation: A literature review and dynamic path forward. Environmental Science & Policy, 157, 103773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103773
Hutasuhut, I. K., Sihombing, M., & Maas, L. T. (2022). Youth participation in management of Deli Watershed (DAS Deli) in Medan. Journal of Environmental and Development Studies, 3(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.32734/jeds.v3i1.8275
Iskandar, M. R., Cordova, M. R., & Park, Y.-G. (2022). Pathways and destinations of floating marine plastic debris from 10 major rivers in Java and Bali, Indonesia: A Lagrangian particle tracking perspective. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 185, 114331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114331
Jollymore, A., Haines, M. J., Satterfield, T., & Johnson, M. S. (2017). Citizen science for water quality monitoring: Data implications of citizen perspectives. Journal of Environmental Management, 200, 456–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.05.083
Juliandar, M., Rohmat, D., Setiawan, I., & Nandi. (2023). The impact of Citarum Harum Project on ecoliteracy among Upper Citarum residents. Geosfera Indonesia, 8(3), 316–331. https://doi.org/10.19184/geosi.v8i3.40131
Kollmuss, A., & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the gap: Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior? Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620220145401
Lema, M. W. (2025). Sustaining rural livelihoods through participatory water governance: A review of community-driven water resource management models in East and Central Africa. Frontiers in Water, 7, 1704600. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2025.1704600
Lubis, R. L., & Hamidipradja, K. (2025). Harnessing community engagement to reduce river pollution: A case study of collaborative initiatives along the Cikapundung River in Bandung City, Indonesia. Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, 3(1), 135–167. https://doi.org/10.3138/jccpe-2024-0022
Maharani, D., Hidayat, E. N., & Basar, G. G. K. (2023). Partisipasi masyarakat dalam pengelolaan bantaran Sungai Citarum Sektor 7 Kecamatan Baleendah Kabupaten Bandung. Focus: Jurnal Pekerjaan Sosial, 6(1), 132–142. https://doi.org/10.24198/focus.v6i1.44923
Mansyur, N. F. M., Kusuma, H., Widodo, P., & Saragih, H. J. R. (2024). Instilling environmental and disaster awareness through Jeneberang River School. International Journal of Humanities Education and Social Sciences, 3(5), 2757–2762.
Mardianti, F., & Purba, D. E. (2023). Effects of citizen participation on urban water management based on socioeconomic factors. Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management, 9(4), 915–932. https://doi.org/10.22035/gjesm.2023.04.17
Martín-Martín, A., Orduna-Malea, E., Thelwall, M., & Delgado López-Cózar, E. (2018). Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus: A systematic comparison of citations in 252 subject categories. Journal of Informetrics, 12(4), 1160–1177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2018.09.002
Monroe, M. C., Plate, R. R., Oxarart, A., Bowers, A., & Chaves, W. A. (2019). Identifying effective climate change education strategies: A systematic review of the research. Environmental Education Research, 25(6), 791–812. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2017.1360842
Newig, J., Jager, N. W., Challies, E., & Kochskämper, E. (2023). Does stakeholder participation improve environmental governance? Evidence from a meta-analysis of 305 case studies. Global Environmental Change, 82, 102705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2023.102705
Nowell, L. S., Norris, J. M., White, D. E., & Moules, N. J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
Özerol, G., Vinke-de Kruijf, J., Brisbois, M. C., Casiano Flores, C., Deekshit, P., Girard, C., Knieper, C., Mirnezami, S. J., Ortega-Reig, M., Ranjan, P., Schröder, N. J. S., & Schröter, B. (2018). Comparative studies of water governance: A systematic review. Ecology and Society, 23(4), 43. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10548-230443
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., & Moher, D. (2021a). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Page, M. J., Moher, D., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., & McKenzie, J. E. (2021b). PRISMA 2020 explanation and elaboration: Updated guidance and exemplars for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n160. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n160
Pamudji, T., Djono, A., & Daniel, D. (2022). The effect of community contribution on the functionality of rural water supply programs in Indonesia. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 19, 100822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2022.100822
Peker, E., & İlhan, A. (2023). Catalysing the realisation of rainwater harvesting systems through participatory action research. Habitat International, 138, 102927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2023.102927
Rahardjanto, A., Husamah, Hudha, A. M., & Permana, T. I. (2025). Ecocultural practices in East Java, Indonesia: A hermeneutic phenomenological study on “Reresik Kali” as local wisdom for river conservation. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, 102176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102176
Rau, H., Nicolai, S., & Stoll-Kleemann, S. (2022). A systematic review to assess the evidence-based effectiveness, content, and success factors of behavior change interventions for enhancing pro-environmental behavior in individuals. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 901927. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.901927
Reed, M. S. (2008). Stakeholder participation for environmental management: A literature review. Biological Conservation, 141(10), 2417–2431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2008.07.014
Shao, G. P., & Bishop, I. J. (2025). Citizen science in river monitoring: A systematic literature review of the whys and hows. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 13, 1609084. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1609084
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Syamsiyah, N., Sulistyowati, L., Noor, T. I., & Setiawan, I. (2023). The sustainability level of an EcoVillage in the Upper Citarum Watershed of West Java Province, Indonesia. Sustainability, 15(22), 15951. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215951
Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2019). Guidance on conducting a systematic literature review. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 39(1), 93–112. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739456X17723971
Yunus, M., Pagdee, A., & Baral, H. (2025). Local livelihoods and determinants of peatland protection in Indonesia. Trees, Forests and People, 19, 100800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2025.100800
Zhang, X., Jung, W., & Asari, M. (2025). Systematic review of environmental education teaching practices in schools: Trends and gaps (2015-2024). Sustainability, 17(19), 8561. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198561
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Moshka Dewi Azzahra
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
