Community-Based Landscape Intervention for Informal Waste Site Restoration Using Telajakan-Inspired Ecological Design in Urban Indonesia

Unmanaged waste accumulation in urban areas poses significant environmental and social challenges, especially in rapidly urbanizing regions of Southeast Asia. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a community-based landscape intervention to restore an informal waste site in Pekanbaru, Indonesia, using a culturally adapted telajakan-inspired ecological design. The central research question addresses whether participatory restoration can foster behavioral change and sustain ecological function in low-resource urban settings. The intervention was implemented on a 50 m² site that had been used for illegal dumping for over a year. Involving 105 residents, the program combined awareness-raising workshops, waste removal, soil enhancement, and the planting of native and ornamental species—including Cymbopogon nardus, Manihot esculenta, and Rosa chinensis. Data were collected through pre- and post-surveys, photographic documentation, and field observations over a three-month period. Statistical analysis (paired t-test and Chi-square test) showed significant improvements in residents’ environmental knowledge and participation (p < 0.001). During the observation period, all planted species survived and the site remained clean, with continued community-led maintenance through monthly clean-up events. The findings demonstrate that integrating traditional landscape practices with community-based interventions can lead to meaningful behavioral change and short-term ecological success. This case provides a replicable, culturally grounded framework for informal waste site restoration in under-resourced urban areas, with implications for participatory sustainability and environmental justice in the Global South.