Community Based Industrial Symbiosis through Vermiculture: A Circular Resource Exchange Model for Post Disaster Recovery

Abstract

Background: Natural disasters often have long-term impacts on agricultural land productivity and community livelihoods, particularly through soil degradation and disruptions to local economic activities.Objective: This study aimed to analyze how the Pesona Paya Nie Program established community-based industrial symbiosis through a vermiculture system as a circular resource exchange mechanism to support agricultural land rehabilitation and livelihood recovery in post-disaster settings. Method: This study employed a descriptive qualitative case study approach in Blang Mee Village, Bireuen Regency, Aceh, Indonesia. Data were obtained through a literature review and internal company documents, including program planning documents, value chain documentation, soil test results, and program implementation reports. Network mapping was used to identify nodes and resource flows within the exchange network, followed by thematic analysis. Findings and Implications: The findings showed that the program connected farmer groups, livestock groups, Tourism Awareness Groups (Pokdarwis), households, and vermiculture groups within an integrated resource exchange network. Organic waste was converted into vermicompost to improve soil organic carbon levels in post-disaster agricultural land while simultaneously strengthening knowledge exchange and stakeholder collaboration and generating environmental, social, and economic benefits. This study was limited to document-based qualitative analysis; therefore, future research should incorporate material flow analysis (MFA) or life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantitatively evaluate resource efficiency and environmental impacts. Conclusion: This study offers a community-based industrial symbiosis perspective, demonstrating that circular resource exchange principles can emerge within Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility (Tanggung Jawab Sosial dan Lingkungan [TJSL]) programs to support environmental rehabilitation and post-disaster recovery.