The Marharoan Bolon Tradition as a Socio-Ecological Practice in the Sustainable Development of the Simalungun Community

Abstract

Local wisdom plays an important role in building harmonious relationships
between communities and the environment. Marharoan Bolon, a tradition of
mutual cooperation unique to the Simalungun community, reflects socioecological practices that embody the values of togetherness, solidarity, and care
for the environment. This study aims to analyze the role of this tradition in
supporting sustainable development, particularly through community
participation in environmental management. The method used is a descriptive
qualitative approach through literature study and conceptual analysis from an
ecological sociology perspective. The results show that Marharoan Bolon
functions as a social mechanism that strengthens community cohesion while also
serving as an adaptive strategy in maintaining the sustainability of natural
resources. This tradition encourages active community involvement in village
infrastructure development, land maintenance, and collective environmental
preservation. However, the dynamics of modernization and changes in social
structure pose significant challenges to the sustainability of these traditional
values. Therefore, the preservation of Marharoan Bolon needs to be integrated
with community-based development policies so that it can adapt to the
contemporary socio-ecological context without losing its local cultural meaning.
Keyword: Marharoan Bolon, Simalungun community, local wisdom, sustainable
development