Phenomenological Studies of Leadership in

Ecological Intelligence of Nature Lovers

Titis Sekti Wijayanti 1, Adi Sutakwa 2, and Luthfiyah Dyaka 3
1

Departement of Psychology, Sebelas Maret University, Street Ir. Sutami 36 A Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
Email: tissektiw@gmail.com
3
Departement of Food Science and Technology, Sebelas Maret University, Street Ir. Sutami 36 A Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
Email: adi.sutakwa@student.uns.ac.id
2
Department of Education Studies, Sebelas Maret University, Street Ir. Sutami 36 A Surakarta 57126, Indonesia
Email: Lut.dyaka@gmail.com
AbstractThe phenomenon of the emergence of a leader who is
responsive to environmental conditions, especially in government
policy-making, become a guiding idea for ecological condition of the
world which are increasingly concerned over the years. Human and
nature have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship which is formed as
the highest law in the context of the ecosystem. Nature lovers as an
organization that teaches about the relationship of "love" between
human and the universe has good educational effect in leadership.
Organization of nature lovers also serves as a medium to build up
awareness and affection of young generation towards environment. In
this paper, the authors offer an ideas to uncover and study the
phenomenon of ecological intelligence in leadership of nature lovers.
This is because the values in the educational experience of nature
lovers will indirectly establish leadership and ecological intelligence.
Ecological intelligence enables humans to apply what he/she learned
about human attitude towards the ecosystem in policy-making. It
would have an influence on the world to reduce the ecological damage
that cause sustainable living for all creature in the living earth.
Keywords ecological
environment, education

intelligence,

leadership,

nature

lovers,

I. INTRODUCTION
Nature lovers is an organization or community that is formed
from a fact that humans and nature is a synergy that can not be
separated. An organization that teaches about the relationship of
"love" between people and forests and mountains, rivers, sea, air,
etc, which is collaborated with tiered education through its
leadership training and its applications daily life (Tissa, 2012)
Organization of nature lovers is one of the media to raise
awareness and love for the young generation on the environment.
Education and knowledge about the environment plays a role in the
organization of nature lovers to ensure that the condition of the
environment can be protected and not damaged. The research
results, in Indonesia, in the thesis of USUs Compass Organization
Role in Increasing Members Participation to Maintain
Environment (Descriptive Study on Students Corps of Nature
Lovers and Environmental Studies of USU) that the Compass
organization of USU has role in forming members social action so
that members can increase their participation in protecting the
environment. This is in line with the findings data and the research
results of the thesis of USUs Compass Organization Role in
Increasing Members Participation to Maintain Environment
(Descriptive Study on Students Corps of Nature Lovers and
Environmental Studies of USU) that the Compass organization of

USU has role in forming members social action so that members

can increase their participation in protecting the environment. (Ayu
Wulandari, 2011)
Based on the Future Leaders Survey (2008), which surveyed
some 25 000 young peoples, makes it clear that they are 'Intensely
aware of the big challenges facing the planet', but also notes that
they are also the last generation with a chance to put things on a
more sustainable course. The only way to maximize this chance is
through the rapid flowering of ecological intelligence, a collective
connective consciousness and competence that all of us, educators,
learners and graduates alike, share in.
In the process of regeneration or transfer of value from seniors
to juniors members in nature lovers have a process called
(DIKSAR). DIKSAR is a process that must be through by all the
new member of organization. In elementary education candidates
for the nature lovers will be educated skill, physical, and mental as
well as their instincts which is raise up the member to fell more
confident, better able to gauge his ability, and sensitive to the
environment. The values that educated in elementary education of
nature lovers is honesty, discipline, volunteerism and empathy,
responsibility and vitality, grit and courage, independency and selfconfidence, humility and unselfishness, creativity, strong
determination, and nationalism. These values are very important to
built up the members into a personal nature lovers with superior
leadership
Nyoman Anjani, the President of BEM KM ITB - year period
2013-2014 is the figure of nature lovers who currently plays an
important role in the level of student government at ITB. Nyoman
was making a movement called #yukbergerak For Babakan
Siliwangi. Babakan Siliwangi forest is a protected forest area
which has a strategic position in supporting life and environmental
sustainability of Bandung city. This movement is the synergy of
college students with a resident forum Peduli Babakan Siliwangi
which is also a gather up the support and raising funds to 'buy'
forest city and assist the government maintain and caring Babakan
Siliwangi forest.
Nyoman Anjani, with her movement, being one of nature lovers
phenomena who care about the environment. This has been
explained in previous exposure that the values in the educational
experience of nature lovers will indirectly establish leadership and
ecological intelligence. In this paper the authors offer ideas to
uncover and study the phenomenon of leadership in ecological
intelligence of nature lovers.

1.1. Leadership in Nature Lovers

The term Nature Lover was first introduced by Mapala
University of Indonesia in 1975. After changed their name
repeatedly, finally they named the group as Mapala UI. After that,
especially in the 1980s, the development of Nature Lovers groups
was growing rapidly throughout the country, until now.
Nature lover organization is part of an extracurricular activities.
Extracurricular provide training for students in leadership,
organization, management skills, lack of socialization or not
contained in curricular activities.
Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a
group of individuals to achieve a common goal. From the multitude
of studies conducted through the years on personal characteristics,
it is clear that many traits contributes to leadership. Some of
important traits that are consistently identified in many of these
studies are intelligence, self-confidence, determination, integrity,
and sociability. Researchers have found a strong relationship
between leadership and the traits described by the five-factor
personality model : extraversion, conscientiousness, openness, low
neuroticism, and agreeableness (Peter G. Northouse, 2012).
Rinayanti Ln (2011) in her article wrote that in the nature lovers
organization, leadership is formed in the process of Basic
Education (DIKSAR). DIKSAR is the first step that must be
executed by the prospective members, to get the title and
furthermore acting as a member, and run the status also their role as
a member of a nature lovers.
In principle Basic Education of Nature Lovers include 6 (six)
values in the term of Nature Lovers Ethics Code, that is :
1 . Indonesian Nature Lovers realize that the nature and
its contents are the creation of God Almighty.
2 . Indonesian Nature Lovers as part of Indonesian
society realize of our responsibility to God, nation,
and homeland.
3. Indonesian Nature Lovers realize that nature lovers is
a soul who love nature as a gift of God Almighty.
In accordance with the above nature with our realization, we
states :
1.Devoted to God Almighty,
2.Care for nature and its contents and use of natural resources in
accordance with their needs,
3.Serve the nation and homeland,
4.Respect the life order in the community
5.Trying strengthens kinship among nature lovers in
accordance with the principles of nature lovers,
6 . Trying to help each other and appreciate each other in
the implementation of devotion to God, nation, and
homeland
(Enacted with the 4th National Gladian Ujung Pandang , 1974).
When the contents is studied from the value grains in the Nature
Lovers Ethics Code above, it probably complete enough to be used
as a guideline for all members of the nature lovers organization,
both in secondary education and higher education, to act and
behave in order to live as man who loves Natural Environment as
God Almightys Creation.
According to Sumaatmadja, Nursid (in the article of Rinayanti
Ln, 2011) activitys container that are extracurricular such as

Scouts and nature lovers organization, in particular has a program

and coaches related to environmental education . In its activities
should be emphasized about the development of the glorious
mental attitude of the space realization, ecological awareness and
environmental consciousness should be taken seriously embedded
here.
1.2. Ecological intelligence
Goleman (2009) experts of ecological intelligence stated that an
ecological is understanding of the organism and its ecosystem.
Ecological intelligence makes humans can apply what humans
learned about as a result of human activity on the ecosystem so
they can reduce the damage.
One face of ecological intelligence is ethical management in
managing natural resources in three categories : (1) with a wealth
of natural ecosystems can (not) be renewed; (2) the sources of
human work, such as education, electricity, medicines, water,
sanitation; (3) human resources in perspective of bioethics
associated with natural resources
(Jayapaul Azariah, Ethical Management of Natural Resources,
2009).
Human ecological intelligences, is the form of understanding
and translation of human relations with all elements and other
living beings. Human with ecological intelligent established their
self as the control to their environment (human as in control of the
natural environment). Ecological intelligence as deep empathy and
concern for environmental round , and how to think critically about
what is happening in the environment around us as a result of our
treatment (Jung, 2010).
Ecological intelligence requires human to apply what they
experienced and learned about the relationship of human activity to
the ecosystem. Ecological intelligence forge human to managing
emotions, mind, and actions in dealing with the universe.
Ecological intelligence manifested in a real attitude and behavior
that considers the ecological capacity, and bear to a human attitude
of solidarity with nature ( Hultkrantz, in Sternberg, 2004). The
universe is not only exploitation resources but as the home of living
together which is continue to be protected, cared for, organized,
and not to be destroyed.
II. METHODS

This study is a qualitative research using the method of

phenomenological study. Subjects in this study were four members
of nature lovers in Surakarta city which has the following
characteristics: early adulthood (18-40 years according to the
theoretical developments in Hurlock, 2004), had attended basic
education or getting the basics of nature lovers, ever ascending
mountain, ever being a leader in an organization, has been a
member of nature lovers for five-years. These four subjects were
students at the Sebelas March University, Surakarta (UNS). A
Psychology student of 2007 generation, an English Literature
student of 2008 generation, and two Agro Technology student of
2010 generation. This study used a qualitative approach with the
data collection methods in the form of semi-structured interviews
and observations on the research subject. The interview process is
done in three times on December 24, 2013, December 31, 2013,
and January 4, 2014 that was held at the Central Library of UNS.
III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Research subjects named Akas, Busrini, Agil, and Irza. These
subjects have in common that: join a nature lover since they was
in high school and is still active until this day to follow the action
with their friends in a single organization. All of them had a
history of being a leader. In interview process, the common thread
that can be taken is subject gets an understanding of the
ideological nature lovers of basic education or the material taught
space each organization in according their AD/ART. All of them
admitted that the organization's memorable nature lovers is the
sense of kinship or solidarity in the workforce and the
organization. The similarity of an answer is found in all subjects
when asked about the basics of environmental stewardship. All
subjects are concerned with the problem of waste. They claim to
apply the ideology of nature lover, one with no litter.
Busrini said that she became a teacher landfill, when she taught
his students, she had been educate her students to not littering.
Akas and Irza recount their experiences while hiking. Sometimes,
at the time they clean a mountain or at least bring down the back
of the garbage brought supplies. Agil apply the principle that his
house should be neat, clean, and pleasing to the eye. He cleaned
all of litter leaf and plastic garbage should not be scattered at his
home. In his communities, Agil do service projects together local
residents, especially during the rainy season.
All subjects also recognize the distinction between nature
lovers with people who are not set in nature lovers alike although
a climber. A nature lovers take principle holds nothing but picture,
kill nothing but time, leave nothing but footprints. It is abstinence
for them to take on any of nature for example edelweiss flowers.
Moreover, abstinence killing of any animal in the woods, and
never leave any litter on the mountain especially. Agil, Akas, and
Irza says that is not a mountain climber background nature lovers
often do measure scribble their names on the stones of the
mountain.
When asked about the film 5 cm phenomenon that erupted in
Indonesia, Agil said that it was like two sides of a coin. The
positive effect is boost local tourism, but the downside is
damaging the ecosystem. Mount Semeru been a surge in the trash
due to the many new climbers.

Irza emphasize for DIKSAR of nature lovers in an organization

is done correctly, then it can be left ideology to preserve nature not
destroy nature. DIKSAR makes all members of nature lovers
organization have basic education values of nature lovers then
they cherished that values on their daily life.
Through educational nature lovers Akas, Agil, and Irza are also
learn about leadership Irza. Irza even have a small principle to be
happy as a leader because when he become a leader, he can direct
others. For Irza, when being a leader, he can tell his friends not to
litter when doing outdoor activities together.
Irza also told me when he became a leader of the nature lovers
organization named PALAPISKA, he and friend ever do
reforestation activities. Akas who is currently the Secretary
General of Indonesian Association of Student Agrotechnology also
have a work program for mangrove planting. On the other hand,
Agil is currently the coach organization of nature lovers, he
focused for his juniors formed a character to not just be a natural
campaigner but also make efforts in nature conservation. Agil said
that the leadership honed when doing activities in the outdoors,
nature lovers charged with a travel management. One of travel
managements is they appoint one member to be a leader.
Agil reveals that every human being is a nature lover. But in
nowdays the meaning shifted meaning that only a limited choice of
nature lovers. For Agil, nature lovers as a way of life. Loving
nature is the duty of every person. Agil give an idea to include
curriculum nature lovers in educational institutions to instill a love
of nature ideology as early as possible. Agil said nature has a right
to sustainable. Humans, animals, and plants is unity. When
someone says that the highest strata is human, for him not because
to breathe as well humans need plants. There's human and natural
relation to one another. A nature lover should be beneficial to the
environment directly
IV. CONCLUSIONS
Educational of nature lovers that was done by basic education
or room learning in accordance with each AD/ART of nature
lovers organization become media of forming the leadership and
awareness attitude to love the nature. In the five-factor personality
model, conscienetiousness is one of the strongest traits in
leadership. The researchers concluded that the education of nature
lovers
forming
environment
awareness,
especially
conscienetiousness. With this awareness that is basic of their role
of being a leader who cares about the environment. Therefore, it is
concluded that in this study, nature lovers forming the ecological
intelligence that has role in leadership.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Thanks to URaL 28 nature lovers organization for the inspiration
and experiences, as well as Palapiska nature lovers
organization. Thanks to Arif Tri Setyanto for the support.
Thanks to Akas, Agil, Busrini, and Irza for the willingness and
sharing time. Hopefully it is useful.
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