**INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL STUDIES (INHIDES)** \n Year Established: 2020 (legal entity since 2023) \n Location: Gorontalo, Indonesia \n Form: Association

\
Thematic Focus

* Human ecology and social-ecological justice
* Participatory research and community facilitation in villages
* Publication and dissemination of evidence-based knowledge
* Advocacy for inclusive and data-driven policies
* Strengthening local food systems, conservation, and ecological literacy


---

**About INHIDES** \n The Institute for Human and Ecological Studies (Inhides) was founded in June 2020 as a study group consisting of researchers, activists, and professionals concerned with social and ecological issues. Initially named the *Institute for Humanity and Development Studies*, the institution became a legal entity in 2023 with a new name, better reflecting its focus on the relationship between humans and the environment.

\
This change was born out of an internal evaluation of the term “Development Studies,” which was considered to refer too heavily to a top-down development paradigm that often neglects social-ecological justice and local knowledge.

\
The change to *Institute for Human and Ecological Studies* reflects the institution’s commitment to broadening its cross-disciplinary approach toward a more holistic understanding of the human–nature relationship. Inhides seeks to emphasize the importance of sustainability, social-ecological justice, and local knowledge in its advocacy, research, and educational work with communities. This focus marks a renewed spirit within Inhides to bridge scientific and practical approaches in order to respond contextually to various social-ecological crises.

\
Through participatory action research, community facilitation, and the publication of data that prioritizes vulnerable groups, Inhides promotes the transformation of knowledge as a tool for change. Inhides rejects narrow development approaches, choosing instead a reflective and critical path in addressing interconnected environmental challenges and social inequalities.


---

**Achievements:** \n  In the past five years, INHIDES has:

\
* Conducted research and community facilitation in 4 forest-buffer villages around Nantu Wildlife Reserve, BJ Habibie Grand Forest Park, and Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park
* Built partnerships with 23 local and national institutions
* Published pocket books, working papers, position papers, press releases, and collaborative research
* Reached more than 500 direct beneficiaries
* Intervened in a landscape area of approximately ±12 hectares
* Key activities, in addition to participatory action research, include the Children’s

  \

Conservation School, local food demonstration plots, participatory mapping, wildlife conservation, natural resource management training, and media campaigns on environmental and human rights issues in Gorontalo.

\
**About Gorontalo District**

* Gorontalo Forest Area: The forest area in Gorontalo Regency, based on the Decree of the Minister of Forestry No. 325/Menhut-II/2010 dated May 25, 2010, is 97,680 hectares. This forest area consists of production forests, limited production forests, and protected forests. Overall, Gorontalo Province has a total forest area of approximately 768,726.22 hectares, including protected forests, conservation forests, and production forests.
* Causes of Deforestation: Expansion of extractive industries, corn monoculture, and palm oil concessions. The conversion of conservation areas in Panua Nature Reserve, Tanjung Panjang Nature Reserve, Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park, and Nantu Forest Wildlife Sanctuary.
* Population: 418,244 (2023)
* Indigenous People: Gorontalo (Hulonthalo)
* Livelihoods: Agriculture, labor, and fisheries

\


### INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL STUDIES (INHIDES)

Tahun Berdiri: 2020 (berbadan hukum sejak 2023) \n  Lokasi: Gorontalo, Indonesia \n  Bentuk: Perkumpulan

### Fokus Tematik

* Ekologi manusia dan keadilan sosial-ekologis
* Riset partisipatif dan pendampingan masyarakat desa
* Publikasi dan penyebaran pengetahuan berbasis bukti
* Advokasi kebijakan inklusif dan berbasis data
* Penguatan pangan lokal, konservasi, dan literasi ekologi

\

---

### Tentang INHIDES

Institute for Human and Ecological Studies (Inhides) didirikan pada Juni 2020 sebagai kelompok studi yang terdiri dari peneliti, aktivis, dan individu profesional yang peduli pada isu sosial dan ekologi. Awalnya bernama Institute for Humanity and Development Studies, lembaga ini resmi berbadan hukum pada 2023 dengan nama baru, yang lebih merefleksikan fokus pada relasi manusia dan lingkungan. Perubahan ini lahir dari evaluasi internal terhadap istilah “Development Studies” yang dinilai terlalu mengacu pada paradigma pembangunan bersifat top-down yang kerap kali mengabaikan keadilan sosial-ekologis dan pengetahuan  lokal.

\
Perubahan nama menjadi *Institute for Human and Ecological Studies* mencerminkan komitmen lembaga untuk memperluas pendekatan lintas disiplin menuju pemahaman yang lebih utuh terhadap hubungan manusia dengan alam. Inhides ingin menegaskan pentingnya nilai keberlanjutan, keadilan sosial-ekologis, dan pengetauan lokal dalam melakukan kerja-kerja advokasi, riset, serta pendidikan bersama rakyat. Fokus ini menandai semangat baru Inhides dalam menjembatani pendekatan ilmiah dan praksis guna merespons berbagai krisis sosial-ekologis secara kontekstual.

\
Melalui riset aksi partisipatif, pendampingan masyarakat, serta publikasi data yang berpihak kepada kelompok rentan, Inhides mendorong transformasi pengetahuan sebagai alat perubahan. Inhides menolak pendekatan pembangunan yang sempit, dan memilih jalan reflektif dan kritis dalam membaca tantangan lingkungan dan ketimpangan sosial yang saling terhubung.


---

### Capaian:

Dalam 5 tahun terakhir, INHIDES telah:

\
* Melakukan riset dan pendampingan di 4 desa penyangga hutan di sekitar SM Nantu, Tahura BJ Habibie, dan TN Bogani Nani Wartabone
* Membangun kemitraan dengan 23 lembaga lokal dan nasional
* Menerbitkan buku saku, kertas kerja, kertas posisi, siaran pers, dan riset kolaboratif
* Menjangkau lebih dari 500 penerima manfaat langsung
* Mengintervensi wilayah lanskap seluas ±12 hektare

  \

Beberapa kegiatan utama selain riset aksi partisipatif, juga mencakup Sekolah Konservasi Anak, demplot pangan lokal, pemetaan partisipatif, konservasi satwa liar, pelatihan pengelolaan SDA, hingga kampanye media atas isu lingkungan dan HAM di Gorontalo.

### Tentang Kab. Gorontalo

* Luas Hutan Gorontalo: Luas kawasan hutan di Kabupaten Gorontalo berdasarkan SK. Menhut No. 325/Menhut-II/2010 tanggal 25 Mei 2010 adalah 97.680 hektare. Kawasan hutan ini terdiri dari hutan produksi, hutan produksi terbatas, dan hutan lindung. Secara keseluruhan, Provinsi Gorontalo memiliki luas kawasan hutan sekitar 768.726,22 hektare, termasuk hutan lindung, hutan konservasi, dan hutan produksi.
* Penyebab Deforestasi: ekspansi industri ekstraktif, monokultur jagung, konsesi sawit. Alih fungsi kawasan konservasi di Cagar Alam Panua, Cagar Alam Tanjung Panjang, Taman Nasional Bogani Nani Wartabone, dan Suaka Margasatwa Hutan Nantu.
* Populasi Gorontalo: 418.244 (2023)
* Masyarakat Adat: Gorontalo (Hulonthalo)
* Mata Pencaharian: Pertanian, buruh, dan perikanan

\


Institute for Human and Ecological Studies (INHIDES)

About Member