<![CDATA[Waste in mountain hiking areas is often treated as a purely technical problem, yet it is rooted in weak ecological awareness and a missing moral dimension. On the Mount Sibayak trail via Jaranguda Village, the administrative sanction of deposit forfeiture has not fully succeeded in changing tourists' behavior. This study describes the implementation of ecotheological values in a waste-cleaning program carried out by students of Community Service Program (KKN) Group 1, Dusun IV, Jaranguda Village, UIN Sumatera Utara, in 2026. Using a descriptive qualitative approach through participatory observation and informal interviews, the study finds that students interpreted the clean-up activity as a manifestation of humankind's khalifah (stewardship) mandate to protect nature, rather than merely fulfilling a work program. The action situationally succeeded in triggering collective awareness and pro-environmental participation among other hikers on the trail. Although constrained by challenging terrain and limited equipment, team solidarity and support from the site manager were key success factors. This ecotheological approach proved crucial in complementing administrative regulation, and is therefore recommended for integration into sustainable area management.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
