ABSTRACT
Based on the hazard index in 2011, Bogor Regency ranked the 5th in the list of the most hazardous areas. In January 2014, the number of catastrophic events reached 79 cases, while 60 were the incidents of landslides. Mitigation is able to diminish the risk and avoid disaster. Mitigation in the form of local wisdom is an instrument of society in facing environmental problems. This article reflects the role of local wisdom for landslide disaster mitigation at Bojong Koneng. The study used qualitative methods through in-depth interviews with 16 participants, research findings show that local wisdom at Bojong Koneng were: (a) the use of stilt houses, (b) the environmental destruction as taboo, and (c) predictions of disaster occurrence of landslides through hereditary stories. Unfortunately, those local wisdoms were no longer used by the people at Bojong Koneng as their lifestyle. We argue that there should be reinforcing programs to strengthen local wisdom at Bojong Koneng to be used as disaster mitigation tools. Local wisdom began to vanish due to the influx of development that changed the collective vision of the community. A local wisdom strengthening program is important to change the perception of the community about safe living environment.
