Harvesting of Non-timber Forest Products by the Local Communities

Local communities around the forest need to be involved in securing the sustainability of Mount Halimun Salak National Park (MHSNP), for example through the utilization of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as flora in the utilization zone. This research was aimed to provide data and information about 3 kinds of vegetation producing resin (Pinus merkusii, Agathis dammara, and Hevea brasiliensis) and the harvesting NTFPs by the community in the forest vicinity. The research was conducted in MHSNP, and data were analyzed through quantitative-descriptive. The survey method was employed in the study through interviews of respondents using structured questionnaires. This study revealed that the vegetations at the stage of tree comprised of the following: (1) Agathis dammara (damar) -1 with Importance Value Index (IVI) of 276.15% and density of 452 trees ha , (2) Pinus merkusii (pine) trees with IVI of -1 300.0% and density of 552 trees ha , and (3) Hevea brasiliensis (rubber) trees with IVI of 217.42% and density of 85 -1 trees ha . Pine, damar, and rubber sap tapping afforded contribution in 59.18, 4.41, and 60.71%, respectively of the total household incomes. Community involvement in the collection of NTFPs in national parks implicated to the increasing of the forest communities revenue and the forests will be maintained since public can get benefits from forest resources. Forest management should be directed as a producer of NTFPs that can increase the economic income of forest communities with attention to ecological factors.


Introduction
In the year 2003, Mount Halimun-National Park (MHNP) area was expanded from 40,000-113,357 ha in accordance with the decree issued by the Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry Number 175/Kpts-II/2003 as one entity called Mount Halimun-Salak National Park (MHSNP). With the release of the decree the function of the forest has changed from production function which was formerly managed by the state-owned forest enterprise Perum Perhutani to conservation area of pine (Pinus merkusii Jungh. et de Vriese) and damar (Agathis dammara). The pine and damar species is an exotic plant in the national park (Sunaryo et al. 2012). Exotic plants can be a major threat to native plant species (van Wilgen & Richardson 2012).
Philosophically, an area designated as a national park has 3 benefits, namely the ecological, economic, and social benefits. Although in the philosophical concept, the national park is used as much as possible to improve the welfare of the communities, even though in operational practice, it is not easily realized. The consequences of national park expansion is the loss of public access rights to work on farmland that has been long done (Rahmawati et al. 2008).
The expansion of the area of MHSNP has caused various problems such as encroachment and degradation of natural resources (JICA 2007), land ownership conflict, and over use of natural resources (Yatap 2008). Although the national park utilization concept is to improve the welfare of the communities, in operational practice it was not easy to be realized (Dunggio & Gunawan 2009). These problems are often correlated with the low level of welfare of the people around the national park (Dunggio & Gunawan 2009). In 2006, the number of poor households in and around the region MHSNP was 68,113 households (JICA 2007).
MHSNP existence cannot be separated from the people residing in and around the area. Junaedi and Maryani (2013) argued that the management of forest resources needs to be done with the whole ecosystem oriented. Forest conservation cannot be separated from the surrounding environment, both ecological, economical, and social. Good forest management should provide optimal benefits to the society, the forest manangement and the surrounding stakeholders (Birgantoro & Nurrochmat 2007). The community and the forest ecosystem are interdependent, so that it will keep the existence and preservation of forests if it can gain direct and JMHT Vol. XX, ( ): , 201 EISSN: 2089-2063 indirect benefits from the resource (Darusman 2000).
In managing the national park, one of the forest resources that has a comparative advantage with the forest communities are the non-timber forest products (NTFPs). The NTFPs can contribute significantly to their livelihoods of forest dependent communities. Harvesting the NTFPs has become an economically acceptable ecological option of development (Ahenkan & Boon 2011). Therefore, the harvesting of NTFPs by forest communities should be pursued. NTFPs have benefits for the conservation of forest resources and to increase the income of local communities. This research was conducted in order to determine the vegetation of pine, damar and rubber trees as well as assess the harvesting of NTFPs by the community in the national park area.

Methods
The research was conducted during October−December 2012 in 3 villages which are directly adjacent to the MHSNP, namely (1) Cipeuteuy Village, Subdistrict Kabandungan, Sukabumi Regency, (2) Tamansari Village, Taman Sari Subdistrict, Bogor Regency, and (3) Pangradin Village, Jasinga Subdistrict, Bogor Regency. The criteria for the site selection was based on the program of NTFP sap pine and damar collection. The research was using quantitative and qualitative approach. Survey was done using interviews with respondents through the use of structured questionnaires. Selection of respondents was done using purposive sampling, with the rubber sap, pine resin, and gum resin NTFPs collectors community in the MHSNP area. The total number of respondents was 63 that consist of 24 gum resin collectors, 28 rubber sap collectors, and 11 pine sap collectors.
The measurement of NTFP to estimate the availability of NTFP for current and future harvests took place in 3 research locations where 3 exudates-producing tree species have already been utilized by the community. The species comprised in an area of 15 ha of damar trees, 5 ha of pine trees, and 75 ha of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) trees. Vegetation analysis on each level of the tree growth was 2 performed using the checkered path measuring 20 × 20 m for 2 2 2 trees, 10 × 10 m for poles, 5 × 5 m for saplings, and 2 × 2 m for seedlings of each species plantation area. Vegetation analysis was conducted on 12 plots in each vegetation type. The types of data collected consist of primary and secondary data. Primary data is data regarding NTFP collection that utilized by the community: types of NTFPs, the number of shots, the selling price, frequency of collection, income, and the conditions of the vegetation types of pine, damar and rubber plants. Secondary data is data regarding the biophysical condition of research sites. Data were analyzed descriptively. The data was to determine the importance of value index (IVI) through the analysis of dominance, frequency, and density using equation found in (Soerianegara & Indrawan 2002). IVI is a quantity that can describe a type of dominance against other strains in a stand (Soerianegara & Indrawan 2002 Relative frequency (RF) = (FJ/FT) × 100% [6] note: KJ = density of particular vegetation species KT = density of the entire vegetation species DJ = dominance of particular vegetation species DT = dominance of the entire vegetation species PJ = plot inside which particular species was encountered PT = plot for the overall species FJ = frequency of a species FT = frequency of overall species The IVI for pole stage and mature-tree stage is the sum of the relative density (RD), relative dominance (DR), and the relative frequency (RF) as shown in Equation [7] (Soerianegara & Indrawan 2002).
The IVI for seedling stage is the sum of the relative density (RD) and relative frequencies (RF) as shown in Equation [8] (Soerianegara & Indrawan 2002). Furthermore, this IVI used as the basis for determining the level of dominance of a particular type of tree.

IVI = RD + RF [8]
Diversity of vegetation identified by using Shannon Diversity Index (Soegianto 1994 note: Pi is the ratio between the number of individuals of all species by the total number of individuals.

Results and Discussion
MHSNP is located in West Java Province, Indonesia, has an area of ± 113,357 ha, and has a height ranging from 500−2,211 m asl. The average of rainfall ranges from -1 4,000−6,000 mm year , according to Schmidt and Ferguson (1951) means climate type B. The average air temperature of 31.5 ºC with average of relative humidity is 88%. MHSNP land cover in the region are composed of natural forests, plantations, mixed farms, rubber plantations, tea gardens, shrubs, grass, paddies fields, fields, and land up. Forest plantations in the MHSNP region previously existed as production forests area managed by Perum Perhutani (Figure 1).
Measurement of damar vegetation was conducted in Cipeuteuy Village located at an altitude of 750-800 m asl with a hilly topography. Based on climate classification by Schmidt and Ferguson (1951), the village was categoryzed as type B precipitation, with 2.600 1 mm rainfall per year, an average temperature of 18-32 °C and an average of relative Measurement of pine vegetation was done in Tamansari Village. Elevation in the study area was 740 m asl with an average temperature ranges between 25 28 °C, and average of relative humidity ranges between 65 72%. The climate in this region according to the classification of Schmidt and Ferguson (1951) categorized as type A, with average of -1 annual rainfall is 2,600 mm year . Most of the Tamansari Village was MHSNP area, covering an area of 600 ha, or approximately 64.14% of the total area of the village (Village of Tamansari 2011).
Measurement of the rubber vegetation carried out in Pangradin Village located at an altitude of 250-600 m asl with undulating topography, hilly, and mountainous. The temperature ranges between 24-32 °C, with average humidity of 80%, and annual average of rainfall of 1500 mm -1 year . Forest area of MHSNP in Pangradin Village measuring 85 ha or 7.23% of the village area (Village of Pangradin 2011).

− −
The harvesting of non-timber forest products at MHSNP area The harvesting of NTFPs in the MHSNP region by communities around the forest in this research consisted of the collection of damar, pine, and rubber sap. Jacobson and Shiba (2012) suggested that the development of NTFPs in the forest management should be planned to increase alternative communities income that have dependency on forest resources by considering socio-economic factors and forest conditions. Management of MHSNP has exerted efforts to optimize the function of the forest by utilizing the potential of existing programs through the collection of NTFPs. Collection programs of pine and damar sap in MHSNP region were socialized in June 2012. The program began in September 2012 under the momerandom of understanding (MoU) between the tapper farmers and MHSNP Hall which was collaborated in cooperation with Sukabumi Development Observer Foundation (SDOF) as a donor and the collector of sap tapping results. The MoU mentioned (1) farmers were obliged to sell the results of pine sap tapping and damar to SDOF with the price that's already agreed, -1 which was IDR3,000 kg , (2) must follow the instructions and technical guidance provided by the officer, (3) tapping farmers as members of farmer groups village conservation society (VCS) and actively participated in regional security efforts MHSNP. If there are farmers who break the rules that have been agreed, then the MHSNP hall would revoke the license of NTFPs collection The harvesting of damar sap in the Cipeuteuy Village conducted by members of VCS of Sukagalih Kopel. Damar plants that existed in MHSNP region was originally a production forest managed by Perum Perhutani. These crops were grown by the communities since 1993. Proximity of housing to the damar plants area approximately 300 m. Damar sap tapping was conducted together by members of VCS of Sukagalih Kopel. The number of VCS members involved in the program were 24 people. The production of damar sap in the first harvest was 150 kg and that in the second harvest was 50 kg of 1.500 trees tapped for 15 days tapping. The result of sap was sold to SDOF with the selling -1 price of IDR3,000 kg . The total income of VCS Kopel from -1 damar sap was IDR600,000 month . The revenue of damar sap was then divided equally to all the members of VCS Kopel involved in the program, so that each member received income in Cipeuteuy Village was very small to the total household income of farmers, which was amounting of 1.28% to 4.41% or 2.34% of the average income (Table 1). These results were different from the study conducted by Wijayanto (2002) which suggested that the damar sap contributed significantly to household income in about 65% of the household total income of the farmers in West Lampung Krui Coastal. Maryudi (2012) expressed that the average income of damar tapping farmers in the forest -1 managed by Perum Perhutani was IDR1,000,000 month -1 tappers .
The low of damar sap result in Cipeuteuy Village was due to lack of understanding of farmers on tapping technique, the -1 least number of tapping holes tree , and the high number of unproductive damar trees. Resin production per tree was strongly influenced by various factors, such as grown site quality, trees age, stand density, genetic traits, growing altitude above sea level, bark thickness, trunk diameter, topography, editorial quality and direction of tapping (Irawan et al. 2007). Collecting program of damar sap in Cipeutey Village was only implemented in one month because the farmers did not want to continue this program due to low production result and low selling price of sap. The farmers considered as laborers only in the tapping program, and they wanted the sale price to be adjusted with standard price of damar sap in the market. Based on Decree Number 22/2012, -1 reference price for damar sap was IDR8,500 kg .
Pine plants which exist in MHSNP region are original plants of production forest managed by Perum Perhutani. In the beginning of region expansion, community involvement in pine sap tapping was carried out under the Perhutani management through the community joint forest management (CJFM). Pine sap collection program in the MHSNP region is done to improve the welfare of forest communities by constantly ensuring the preservation of the ecosystem. The harvesting of pine sap in the Tamansari Village should be done by members of VCS consisting of 39 people, but in fact, the pine sap tapping is just conducted by 11 people, because some members of the VCS are not interested in collecting pine sap. They have other main works so they do not have the time in tapping activities. In addition, the price of sap received by farmers is still low. Cahyono (2011) state that the factors that influence farmers' willingness on tapping pine are the age of the farmer, location, and price on tapping sap.
The number of farmers managing pine trees varies depending on the ability of each farmer in tapping (Figure 3). The number of trees managed is 300 to 1,000 trees person or -1 451 trees person in the average. Sap harvesting is implemented every 15 days, with sap production of 160 to -1 -1 -1 -1 450 kg month person or 285.45 kg person month in the average. The production average of a tree is 316 g (Figure 2, Table 1). Sukadaryati and Dulsalam (2013) state that the production of sap each tree varies depending on the internal factors of the pine tree it self that cause the tree to produce more sap than other trees. Rubber in Indonesia was one of the crops plantation which had an important role as a source of foreign exchange earnings, employment, driving economic growth, preservation of the environment, and natural resources (Sannia et al. 2013). Rubber plants at the site MHSNP region had been planted by the villagers of Pangradin before the expansion of MHSNP region. The harvesting of rubbers in MHSNP region had been done by the society of Pangradin Villagers since long time, but had not yet formed MoU between the communities and MHSNP Hall in collecting of rubbers. Acreage managed by the farmers in the area of MHSNP ranges from 0.25-3.0 ha. The majority of farmers in the Pangradin Village planted rubber in the arable land in MHSNP area. The rubber plant was a source of daily income of farm households become the main reason people choose this type of plant. The ability of farmers to conduct the -1 tapping of 200-300 trees day with production of sap obtained by 7-15 kg of latex per 2 days or of 11 kg in the average. Farmers sold processing rubber to collectors located -1 around the village with a selling price of IDR5,000 kg . Rubber latex that was obtained then processed into rubber sit 106  Figure 2 The inflicting of injury on tree-stem for exudates.    sheets ready for sale at a price of IDR 25,000 kg ( Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6). The average of rubber production was -1 -1 -1 -1 105-300 kg month person or of 167.7 kgmonth person in the average (Table 1). The production size of the sap produced by farmers depended on the local area managed, tapping frequency, number of trees tapped, and the age of the plant. The average of latex production in Pangradin Village  Figure 7). The number of coffee saplings were lower than damar, because coffee beans were eaten by Paradoxurus hermaphroditus. The IVI of damar showed a downward trend from tree to pole phase, and the natural regeneration of damar was less good. This was indicated by the density of the damar which tend to decrease from tree phase to pole phase. Soerianegera and Indrawan (2002) suggested that the number and frequency of tree species regeneration can be used as a basis on predicting the composition and volume of the stands in the future. The IVI calculation of pine forest in Tamansari Village indicated that the dominant plant for tree and pole level was pine with IVI of 300%, however no dominant species of saplings (Table 2, Figure 8). It showed the condition of the vegetation in the study site was dominated by monoculture crop. Research result of Hastuti et al. (2011) showed that vegetation in National Park of Mount Merbabu, based on clustering ecosystem, tend to monoculture (pine) with IVI of 300%.
The IVI on the tree level of rubber plantations in the Pangradin Village were rubber plants with IVI of 217.4 % and pine with IVI of 82.6%. The pole phase were dominated by -1 the rubber with IVI of 258.7%, density of 660 individu ha , which was followed by Durio zibethinus with IVI of 21.5%, 1,040 trees ha (Table 2, Figure 9). The high IVI of the 3 species indicated the species dominance in the growth place. The IVI of pine was higher than the other 2 types of plants. This indicated that the area was entirely dominated by pine plantation, as the higher IVI value of a species indicates the greater dominance of the species on growth place (Soerianegara & Indrawan 2002). Vegetation density at tree -1 -1 level of damar by 452 trees ha , pine by 552 trees ha , and -1 rubber by 85 trees ha . Damar and pine forests at the study site had a relatively high density of trees, while the vegetation density in the rubber plantations was low. Samingan (1997) suggested that the estimated normal density of trees in -1 production forest was 250 trees ha .
The results of vegetation analysis below showed that there were 29 species of plants that lived naturally in the wild under the damar stands (Figure 7). Asmayannur et al. (2012) argued that the undergrowth was important component in forest ecosystems to be reckoned the role. Medicinal plants and ornamental plants existed in MHSNP region can be developed in the buffer zone as sources of income for communities around the forest. The IVI calculation showed that the most dominant species under damar stand were coffee saplings with IVI of 46.2% then followed by Eleusine indica L. with IVI of 24.5%, Panicum montanum with IVI of 21.1% and Pteridophyta with IVI of 13.5% (Table 3). Medicinal plants that grow in the damar understory that were, Commelina benghalensis L. was used as an ulcer drug with IVI of 1.9%, Selaginella sp. as pulmonary drug with IVI of 7.9%, and 4 types of plants as wound medicines consisting of: Clidemia hirta L. with IVI of 16.5%, Melastoma sp. with IVI of 3.5%, Melastoma affine with IVI of 9.9%, and Eupatorium inulifolium with IVI of 1.6%. Those species were often used by people around the forest as traditional medicines.
There were 23 species of plants that grow naturally under pine stands. Lower plant species that had the highest IVI were M.affine with IVI of 37.5%, followed by Dicranopteris dichotoma with IVI of 24.2%, Pteridophyta with IVI of   Figure 7 Agathis dammara stands in the Cipeuteuy Village in MHSNP area.   Rubber stand that grew in the area of MHSNP were communities planting prior to the expansion of the region into MHSNP (Figure 9). At the first, the area was pine forest that were managed by Perum Perhutani. The results of understory vegetation analysis showed that there were 13 species of plants that grow naturally under the rubber stands. This was in contrast with the results of Aththorick (2005) who found 21 species of understory vegetation in the Labuan Batu rubber plantation. The most dominant understory species in the study site were Cynodon dactylon with IVI of 47.8%, followed by M. affine with IVI of 38.9%, Ligodium sp. with IVI of 21.1%, and Eleusine indica with IVI of 17,8% (Table 3). There were 5 types of medicinal plants in the rubber understory that were often used by people around the forest as traditional medicines, namely, M.affine as thrush medication, Eleusine indica as diarrhea medicine, Alsophila glauca as diarrhea medicine also with IVI of 8,4%, Jatropha curcas as worming drug with IVI of 6,8% and Alpinia galanga as tinea versicolor drug with IVI of 5,1%.
Index diversity of undergrowth beneath the damar stands with H' value of 2.24, below the pine stands with H' value of 2.16 and below rubber stands with value H' 2.10. Value diversity among the sites was low. According to Samingan (1997), the value of diversity was very high if it has H' value above 3.40. Low species diversity index showed that the types which found were not so many and only found the same types on each stand (Asmayannur & Sham 2012).
Condition of stands is important to be known to assess the success of the planting crops. These conditions were reflected by several parameters, such as, the number of stems per ha, diameter, and plant height (Rusdiana & Amalia 2012). The average height of the damar tree, pine, and rubber in the area of MHSNP were 20.3, 25.2, and 10.6 m. The average diameter of damar tree, pine, and rubber in the area of MHSNP were 27.2, 30.7, and 11.1 cm. Rusdiana and Amalia (2012) in FMU Banyumas showed that age increasing of pine plant, hence increasing plant height and diameter. Eighteen years old pine stand in FMU Banyumas has a height of 18.1 m and a diameter of 24.2 cm, where as 22 years old pine stand has a height of 24.6 m and a diameter of 32.8 cm. Pine plants diameter in the study site at the age of 25 years old was lower when compared with pine plants in FMU Banyumas. Rusdiana and Amalia (2012) suggested that pine plant growth was influenced by the characteristics of the soil, temperature, rainfall, and altitude.

Conclusion
Damar and pine forest conditions in the HSMNP region are still good with high levels of tree density, but has low species diversity. Pine (P. merkussi), rubber (H. brasiliansis) and damar (A. dammara) that existed in the HSMNP role not only in ecological aspects, but also in the economic and socio aspects. From the ecological aspects of forest ecosystems, they have the function and role in supporting the sustainability of the ecosystem. From the economic aspects, they can be one source of income for forest communities. From the socio aspects, people are involved in the utilization of forest resources. Damar sap and pine collection program in utilization zone area of MHSNP through community empowerment by applying the principles of sustainability and forest functions observance. Income contribution from rubber tapping higher than damar sap and pine to the total household income of farmers. The harvesting of pine sap, rubber and damar in the HSMNP can improve the local economy around the forest.