Analysis of Ranjo Batu Community Perception of Unlicensed Gold Mining Activities on Environmental Quality

Abstract

Abstract Since 2008, the activity of gold mining without a permit in Ranjo Batu Village has always been a polemic. There have been pros and cons in the community. Some people get various benefits, but others feel disadvantaged, giving rise to various perceptions. In this article, we focus more on the environmental aspect. The most apparent impact of mining activities is a decrease in environmental quality, but some people seem to ignore it because a pragmatic view is maintained. This study aims to comprehensively determine the publics perception of the environmental aspects of gold mining activities without a permit in Ranjo Batu Village. The research method uses descriptive and quantitative data. Data were obtained by distributing valid and reliable questionnaires to 95 respondents from a total population of 1,736 people. The descriptive analysis method will use the descriptive analysis method a percentage with the category of respondent achievement level (TCR). The results showed that the publics perception of environmental aspects was included in the unfavorable category, 53.61%. This perception score indicates that illegal gold mining from a community perspective hurts the environment, both in the water, on land, and in the air.