Empowering the Rural Community as Turtle Breeder: Case Studi of Dunu Village, Gorontalo Utara Regency

Turtles are marine reptiles that have existed on Earth for millions of years and have managed to survive until today. Turtles play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem, maintaining the balance of nature and contributing to marine biodiversity. The method used in this research is a qualitative approach, which includes conducting in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and analyzing relevant documents. The data obtained will be analyzed using descriptive and interpretative approaches to illustrate the process of empowering the rural community in Dunu Village. This research aims to understand how the empowerment of the Dunu village community as turtle breeders takes place. The study was conducted for a duration of two weeks, starting from June 27, 2023, to July 11, 2023. The research findings indicate that in Dunu village, Gorontalo Utara Regency, three types of turtles are being conserved. The turtle species involved are the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). There are two individuals from Dunu village who are recognized as professional turtle breeders and actively participate in the protection of turtle eggs, caring for hatchlings, and conducting patrols along the beach where the turtles nest. These two breeders received training from the Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BKSDA) Sulawesi Utara through the Seksi Konservasi Wilayah II Gorontalo.