Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Value Reflected in Papua Children's Literature: A Study of the Archipelago

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as an urgent call for action by all countries related to critical issues, one of which is environmental sustainability. The focus of SDG related to environmental sustainability is to raise environmental consciousness and advocate for the protection of ecosystems. Papua, as an integral part of the Indonesian archipelago, has a big role in preserving ecological balance and natural resource wealth. Papua, characterized by tropical rainforest, mountains, and marine landscape, faces the ecological challenge of natural destruction. The study presented in the present article aims to scrutinize Papua children's literature to see how Papua children's literature reflects themes of environmental conservation, social harmony, and cultural identity. The children's literature that will be analyzed is Menjaga Laut Raja Ampat (Protecting Raja Ampat Sea) by Ali Muakhir and Sasi Laut di Kampung Sintike (Sintike and The Sasi at Kapatcol) by Dayu Rifanto. The story will be analyzed by the ecocriticism theory. The researchers use a descriptive qualitative method and employ an ecocriticism approach to reveal the SDG value in Papua children's literature. The result of this study shows  SDG reflected in the story of Protecting Raja Ampat Sea are  SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and the SDG reflected in the story Sintike and The Sasi at Kapatcol are SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). The findings indicate that Papua’s children’s literature is a valuable medium for promoting SDG value. It emphasizes the value of environmental conservation, cultural sustainability, and indigenous knowledge.