Human Migration and Environmental Change in Indonesian Literature: Exploring Cultural Narratives of Local Communities in Response to Ecological Pressures

Abstract

Human migration and environmental change are interrelated phenomena that shape cultural narratives and socio-ecological transformations. In Indonesia, environmental pressures such as deforestation, rising sea levels and natural disasters have significantly affected internal migration patterns, impacting local traditions and ecological perceptions. This study explores how Indonesian literature depicts human displacement as a response to environmental pressures, emphasizing ecosemiotic interpretations of cultural resilience and adaptation. Using qualitative textual analysis, this study examines selected Indonesian novels that depict migration caused by ecological crises. The study blends ecocriticism and ecosemiotics to analyze how local communities conceptualize and negotiate their relationship with nature amid environmental disruption. The findings of this study reveal that these literary works not only document the socio-ecological consequences of migration, but also serve as cultural archives that preserve indigenous peoples’ ecological knowledge and critique exploitative environmental policies. By investigating the intersection of migration, environmental change and cultural narratives, this study contributes to the discourse on climate displacement and ecological sustainability in the Global South. This research underscores the role of literature in shaping public awareness of environmental justice and advocates for the incorporation of local ecological wisdom into sustainable development policies.