Economic Value Utilization Of Forest Products By The Village Community Around The Forest (Case Study In The Dolok Surungan Surungan Wildlife Sheet Of North Meranti Village And Meranti Tengah Village, Toba Samosir Regency)
Economic Value Utilization of Forest Products by the Village Community Around the Forest
Case Study at the Dolok Surungan Wildlife Marga, North Meranti Village and Meranti Tengah Village, Toba Samosir Regency
The utilization of forest products by the village community around the forest is a crucial aspect of their livelihood. In the area surrounding the Dolok Surungan Wildlife Marga Suaka, specifically in North Meranti Village and Meranti Tengah Village, Toba Samosir Regency, forest products play a vital role in the daily lives of the local community. However, the economic value of these products is often not officially calculated, leaving a significant gap in understanding the true impact of forest utilization on the community's income.
The Importance of Forest Products in the Community
Forest products used by the community include sap, bare-bane, pandan mats, firewood, bamboo, rattan, wild food, and forest taro. These products are not only essential for the community's daily needs but also provide a significant source of income. The community's reliance on forest products is a testament to the importance of sustainable forest management and the need to calculate the economic value of these products.
Research Background
The presence of the forest serves as a habitat for fauna and a source of livelihood for people living around it. The community surrounding the Dolok Surungan Wildlife Marga has been utilizing forest resources for a long time, but there is a lack of data to measure the economic impact of this utilization. This research aims to fill this gap by identifying the types of forest products used, their economic value, and the pattern of utilization carried out by the village community.
Research Objectives
The research objectives are threefold:
- Identify the types of forest products and their economic value used by the community: This objective aims to understand the variety of forest products used by the community and their economic value.
- Know the pattern of utilization of forest products: This objective seeks to understand the total collection, method of taking, process, and marketing of forest products.
- Measure the contribution of the utilization of forest products to the income of the village community: This objective aims to calculate the economic impact of forest product utilization on the community's income.
Research Methods
This research was conducted from June to July 2010 using a quantitative approach supported by qualitative methods. Data collection was carried out through interviews and distribution of questionnaires. The purposive sampling method was used, which involves selecting samples that have certain criteria related to the research.
Research Results
The results of the study show that the contribution of economic value from the use of forest products reached Rp. 511,754,500 per year. This figure provides a clear picture that although the utilization of forest products is often considered trivial, the reality is that it makes a significant contribution to the income of the village community.
Analysis and Discussion
The results of this study indicate that villagers have a high dependence on forest resources to meet their daily needs. Economic activities carried out, such as taking sap and processing raw materials from the forest, not only guarantee the continuity of community income but also create jobs. This is an important aspect to be seen as a potential in planning community-based development.
However, behind these benefits, there are challenges that need to be faced, such as sustainable forest management and protection of biodiversity. Efforts to calculate the economic value of forest products and make it as part of the regional development plan are very important, so that the use of forest products can be carried out sustainably while providing optimal benefits for the community.
Conclusion
This study illustrates how important forest products are not only as a source of livelihood but also as an economic potential that has not been fully utilized and calculated. It is hoped that the results of this study can provide useful information to increase awareness about the value of the forest economy and encourage the government and the community to work together in forest preservation while still utilizing natural resources wisely. A large contribution of the utilization of forest products is a strong reason to pay more attention to the welfare of rural communities and the sustainability of forest ecosystems.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:
- Conduct further research: Further research is needed to understand the economic value of forest products and their impact on the community's income.
- Develop a sustainable forest management plan: A sustainable forest management plan should be developed to ensure the long-term sustainability of forest resources.
- Involve the community in forest management: The community should be involved in forest management to ensure that their needs and concerns are taken into account.
- Promote eco-tourism: Eco-tourism can be promoted to provide an alternative source of income for the community and to reduce the pressure on forest resources.
By implementing these recommendations, the community can benefit from the economic value of forest products while ensuring the sustainability of forest ecosystems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Economic Value Utilization of Forest Products by the Village Community
Q: What are the main forest products used by the village community around the Dolok Surungan Wildlife Marga?
A: The main forest products used by the village community around the Dolok Surungan Wildlife Marga include sap, bare-bane, pandan mats, firewood, bamboo, rattan, wild food, and forest taro.
Q: What is the economic value of forest products used by the village community?
A: The economic value of forest products used by the village community is significant, with a total contribution of Rp. 511,754,500 per year.
Q: How does the village community utilize forest products?
A: The village community utilizes forest products through various economic activities, such as taking sap, processing raw materials from the forest, and selling forest products in the market.
Q: What are the challenges faced by the village community in utilizing forest products?
A: The village community faces challenges such as sustainable forest management and protection of biodiversity. Efforts to calculate the economic value of forest products and make it as part of the regional development plan are very important.
Q: What is the importance of sustainable forest management?
A: Sustainable forest management is crucial to ensure the long-term sustainability of forest resources. It involves managing forest resources in a way that maintains their ecological integrity and provides economic benefits to the community.
Q: How can the community benefit from the economic value of forest products?
A: The community can benefit from the economic value of forest products by developing a sustainable forest management plan, involving the community in forest management, promoting eco-tourism, and ensuring that the economic benefits of forest products are shared equitably among community members.
Q: What is the role of the government in promoting sustainable forest management?
A: The government has a crucial role to play in promoting sustainable forest management by providing support and resources to the community, developing policies and regulations that support sustainable forest management, and ensuring that the economic benefits of forest products are shared equitably among community members.
Q: How can the community ensure that the economic benefits of forest products are shared equitably among community members?
A: The community can ensure that the economic benefits of forest products are shared equitably among community members by developing a transparent and accountable system for managing forest resources, involving community members in decision-making processes, and ensuring that the economic benefits of forest products are distributed fairly among community members.
Q: What are the potential benefits of promoting sustainable forest management?
A: The potential benefits of promoting sustainable forest management include maintaining the ecological integrity of forest ecosystems, providing economic benefits to the community, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of forest resources.
Q: How can the community promote sustainable forest management?
A: The community can promote sustainable forest management by developing a sustainable forest management plan, involving the community in forest management, promoting eco-tourism, and ensuring that the economic benefits of forest products are shared equitably among community members.
Q: What is the importance of involving the community in forest management?
A: Involving the community in forest management is crucial to ensure that the economic benefits of forest products are shared equitably among community members and that the community has a say in decision-making processes related to forest management.
Q: How can the community ensure that the economic benefits of forest products are shared equitably among community members?
A: The community can ensure that the economic benefits of forest products are shared equitably among community members by developing a transparent and accountable system for managing forest resources, involving community members in decision-making processes, and ensuring that the economic benefits of forest products are distributed fairly among community members.
Q: What are the potential risks of not promoting sustainable forest management?
A: The potential risks of not promoting sustainable forest management include the degradation of forest ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity, and the decline of forest productivity.
Q: How can the community mitigate the risks associated with not promoting sustainable forest management?
A: The community can mitigate the risks associated with not promoting sustainable forest management by developing a sustainable forest management plan, involving the community in forest management, promoting eco-tourism, and ensuring that the economic benefits of forest products are shared equitably among community members.