Karakteristik Sosial-Ekonomi dan Pengelolaan Sumber Daya Air: Analisis Komparatif Das Wae Ruhu dan Wae Batu Merah, Kota Ambon

Abstract

Watershed management in small-island urban environments is increasingly challenged by the interaction of biophysical vulnerability, socio-economic dynamics, and growing pressures on water resources. This study comparatively assessed community socio-economic characteristics and their implications for water resources management in the Wae Batu Merah and Wae Ruhu watersheds, Ambon City. A quantitative descriptive-comparative approach was applied to primary data from 100 households selected through proportional random sampling, complemented by interviews, field observations, and secondary data. Socio-economic characteristics and community understanding of biophysical, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions were analysed using descriptive and comparative statistics. The results revealed broadly comparable profiles between the two watersheds in terms of age, sex, occupation, and income, with more pronounced differences in educational attainment and household dependency structure. Community understanding of biophysical conditions showed clearer differentiation: Wae Batu Merah recorded an aggregate score of 1,578, classified as moderate, whereas Wae Ruhu achieved 1,898, classified as high. Economic and socio-cultural dimensions also showed consistently stronger descriptive patterns in Wae Ruhu. These findings demonstrate socio-ecological heterogeneity between neighbouring urban watersheds and underscore the need for differentiated management strategies integrating socio-economic characteristics, community knowledge, adaptive capacity, participation, and local institutions to strengthen participatory, adaptive, and context-specific water resources management in small-island environments.