Determining the best agroforestry system using multicriteria analysis in Banyumas Forest Management Unit

Abstract

Social welfare and food security become essential issues of forest management in Java. Agroforestry development have a potential to tackle these both issues without sacrifing the forest sustainability. The best agroforestry system should integrate the following three aspects: production, ecological, and social sustainabilities. This study aimed to identify the best agroforestry system that are established in plantation forest area, in Banyumas Forest Management Unit. Four different agroforestry systems were evaluated i.e. Teak, Pine, Cajuput, and Clonal Teak patterns. Each agroforestry system has different intercropping area based on their initial spacing of woody plant. The analytical hierarchy process method and followed by multi criteria analysis were used to determine the best agroforestry system. The proposed indicators of production aspect were timber forest product and non timber forest product. Meanwhile, the defined parameters of ecological aspect were plant biodiversity, microclimate, as well as soil and water conservation. The indicators of social aspect were market network, adoptability, and manageability. The result indicated that the weight for production, ecological, and social sustainabilities aspects were 0.43; 0.14; 0.43, respectively. This study revealed the best agroforestry system that can integrate the balance of production, ecological, and social sustainabilities aspects was Clonal Teak pattern (2.39). The next position was occupied by Teak pattern (2.08) and then followed by Pine pattern (2.06). The Cajuput pattern, however, was the last position (1.15), and therefore it was not recommended for agroforestry system in this area.