Strategies of Community Empowerment to Manage Protection Forest Sustainably

Fitta Setiajiati, Hardjanto Hardjanto, Hendrayanto Hendrayanto

Abstract

The Indonesian Government has empowered communities that are living adjacent to forests, but at the same time, protection forests are highly encroached by the local community. In response, our study aims at formulating strategies of community empowerment in protection forest management. Data collection through participatory observation, questionnaire surveys, interviews, and focused group discussions were conducted in the surrounding communities of protected forest areas in Sumbawa District, Indonesia. A combination of descriptive, participatory, and explorative approaches were used for data analysis. The knowledge of local communities on protection forest conservation was found to be on an average level, while their attitudes towards conservation were assessed as being on a higher level. Community empowerment programs implemented by the government were shown to have no significant effect on knowledge improvement, but they were more effective in changing the community's attitudes regarding protection forest management. Local communities were shown to be willing to conduct conservation activities as well as looking for cash income. Therefore, our study suggested that community empowerment programs should link forest conservation with income opportunities for local people, such as implementing conservation agriculture (e.g. agroforestry), partnerships in the production and sale of non-timber forest products, and be conducting clearly reward and punishment for communities.

Authors

Fitta Setiajiati
fittsjiati@gmail.com (Primary Contact)
Hardjanto Hardjanto
Hendrayanto Hendrayanto
SetiajiatiF., HardjantoH., & HendrayantoH. (2017). Strategies of Community Empowerment to Manage Protection Forest Sustainably. Jurnal Manajemen Hutan Tropika, 23(2), 71-80. Retrieved from https://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/jmht/article/view/18342

Article Details

Development Strategy of Potential Non-Timber Forest Product Commodities in the Boti Indigenous Community, Indonesia

Fransiskus Xaverius Dako, Retno Setyowati, Wieke, Eko Pujiono, Imam Budiman, Oematan Oskar...
Abstract View : 187
Download :155

Public Perceptions on the Importance of Ecosystem Services From Vulnerable Forest: A Case Study of Ampang Forest Reserve, Selangor, Malaysia

Mei Yin Gai, Muhammad Luqman Hassan, Arlixcya Vinnisa Anak Empidi, Umi Farishaanum Juraimi,...
Abstract View : 370
Download :328

Expedition and Characterization of the Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum (Becc.)) in West Sumatra

Yusniwati, Ryan Budi Setiawan, Mellyyana Handayani, Alifma Rahimmi Nanda, Dian Sukma, Alfazlul...
Abstract View : 185
Download :163