Continuity and Change in the Midst of Ecological and Livelihood Transformation in Tengger East Java

Abstract

. The uplanders of Tengger around the Bromo Mountains and Semeru in East Java reflect the image of a traditional and isolated peasant community. This research argues that uplanders like the Tengger people are open to the outside world, especially in the economic sector where they are highly responsive to agricultural commodities, following the movement of the existing market. Accordingly, this study wants to probe how the relationship between the livelihoods of the agrarian sector and tourism in Tengger has undergone. Our studies have shown that Tengger can diversify agricultural activities into a non-farming economy, in our case is the tourism. Moreover, population growth and land-hungry monoculture farming also have contributed to ecological crisis problems. This research aims to contribute and provide a new understanding of the Tengger community in today's situation, as well as increase the socio-cultural study of highland communities in Indonesia.