The Literacy of Tropical Community and the Needs for Tropical Environment-Based Learning

Abstract

East Kalimantan is one of the areas in the tropical rainforest environment that has abundant natural resources. It needs a new paradigm about the utilization of natural resources. The future intellectual candidates must realize that the utilization of natural resources must be harmony with the environment. The purposes of this study were to know the literacy of the students of Mulawarman University about the tropical rainforest environment, the literacy about the utilization and management of tropical rainforest environment, and the literacy about culture and local wisdom. Data obtained using questionnaires, interviews and FGD. The respondents were students and lecturers. The results showed that 63.75% of students did not have good literacy about the tropical rainforest, but more than 87.5% of respondents had a good paradigm about tropical forest conservation and 70% of respondents did not have good literacy about the concept of natural resource utilization based on tropical rainforest. Mulawarman University has successfully managed to build culture and local wisdom developed through the diffusion of technology to students. In order to produce competitive and adaptable graduates, Mulawarman University will refine curriculum that meets the competencies required in living in accordance with the uniqueness of East Kalimantan.