Community empowerment strategies and disaster mitigation in Padusan Village, Mojokerto, East Java: A case study of the integrated agroforestry approach by the ‘Pesona Alam Lestari’ Forest Village Community Institution (LMDH)

Abstract

This research aims to understand how the ‘Pesona Alam Lestari’ Forest Village Community Institution (LMDH) in Padusan Village, Mojokerto, East Java, implements community empowerment strategies and disaster mitigation in their operations. LMDH ‘Pesona Alam Lestari’ manages an area of 319.2 hectares (222 hectares in protected forest, 97.2 hectares in production forest) and operates various economic enterprises under the umbrella of agroforestry. These include hot spring tourism, livestock farming, outbound & rafting activities, camping grounds, and waterfall tours. In terms of environmental management, they collaborate with the provincial government in reforestation of critical land. The research methodology involves collecting and analyzing secondary data, interviews with LMDH ‘Pesona Alam Lestari’ members and local community members, and Geographical Information System (GIS) analysis to understand the spatial patterns of disaster risk. Methods such as observation, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews were utilized for qualitative data. The challenges faced in this management include low involvement from the youth and limitations in managerial management. This research will provide important insights into how local communities can be empowered and how they can reduce their risk and enhance their resilience to natural disasters through the integrated agroforestry approach of LMDH ‘Pesona Alam Lestari’.