Abstract:
Rural livelihood sustainability and vulnerability that is caused by environment degradation
and limited access to natural resources is important issue in environmental sociology
research. This article will discuss this issue in the livelihood sociology frame of Bogorian
school of thought. A case study was conducted in Duano tribal community in Riau Province
which focused on menongkah based livelihood system. Menongkah is livelihood activity that
uses traditional technique to look for cockle (Anadara granosa). It combines the techniques of
surfing and collecting cockle by hand on estuarine mudflats.Sustainable livelihood analysis to
data that was collected shows that Duano tribal community can sustain their livelihood, in
response to the degradation of Indragiri estuary ecosystem and agrarian structural changes.
Sustainability of menongkah based livelihood can be seen from several indication, i.e.: 1.
Menongkah is the important part of livelihood arrangement in the community level and
household level, 2. Menongkah always positioned as the primary livelihood activity of low
stratum households and as the sideline livelihood activity of middle and upper stratum
households, in response to social and ecological vulnerability, 3. Menongkah always
positioned as the important part of Duano cultural development.
