THE INFLUENCE OF PARABELA’S LEADERSHIP TOWARDS SOCIETY’S ATTITUDES IN PRESERVING KAOMBO FOREST IN BUTON REGENCY

The research aims to (1) analyze parabela’s leadership role based on local wisdom in preserving Kaombo areas in post-rural autonomy era, and (2) analyze the influence of parabela’s leadership based on local wisdom towards society’s attitudes in preserving Kaombo areas in post-rural autonomy era. The research used mixed methods, combining qualitative and quantitative methods together. In the research, the qualitative method was then supported by quantitative method. Four sub districts were used as research locations using purposive samplings method with several considerations; those were having a parabela and the subordinates, keeping customary parties alive, having or having had Kaombo forest, and having society with predominately farmers. The four sub districts were PasarWajo, Lapandewa, Sampolawa, and WalowaSubdistricts. Eight villages/countries out of the four sub districts were determined. They were Lapandewa, Burangasi, Rongi, Galanti, Kaumbu, Lapodi, Kaongkeongkea, and TakimpoLipougena. The informants in this research were the parabelas, the customary devices, the heads of villages/countries, the Sultan and his subordinates, and Buton Regency government (Regent/the Head of Forestry Ministry/the Head of Tourism Ministry). The societies under the reign of parabelas were used as the research respondents, based on the amount of population, 3528 families. The sampling technique used was propositional random sampling. The numbers of samples were determined using Morgan table, and it was found to be 346 samples. The data gathering methods were: participant observation, ethnography interview, questionnaire, FGD, and library study methods. The data analysis method used was qualitative-quantitative analysis. The research result of parabela’s leadership role in post-rural autonomy era can be seen from the roles of parabela as an informant, a custom functionary, a mediator, and a decision maker. However, there is a change in parabela’s character. A parabela was known to be proactive in doing the roles to reserve Kaombo forest areas, who became a single ruler in a kadie before the formal government was established. Currently, a parabela is a passive figure who will appear only in a situation where the society can no longer ask for the head of village’s help. Parabela’s leadership role gives a positive influence to society’s attitudes in preserving Kaombo areas in post-rural autonomy era. Another variable which gives a positive influence to society’s attitudes is communication effectiveness. The society’s participation does not give any positive influence.