Knowledge and Practice of Sustainable Land Management of Coffee Agroforestry in Community Forest Areas, West Lampung Regency

Abstract

This study aims to identify knowledge and practices of sustainable land management in coffee agroforestry in community forest areas. The research was conducted from November to December 2021 in a community forest area in Air Hitam District, West Lampung Regency. The respondents are 40 coffee farmers who cultivate coffee in the community forest area. The study used the Knowledge, Attitude, and practice framework to identify knowledge and practices of sustainable land management in coffee agroforestry and analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. The study results show that coffee farmers’ knowledge of sustainable land management is in the fairly high category. Farmers understand that sustainable land management supports forest sustainability and increases coffee productivity. Sustainable land management practices that coffee farmers have implemented include the use of organic fertilizers from livestock, the use of coffee shells as natural compost, planting shade trees to prevent erosion and increase soil fertility, and soil conservation techniques using the Rorak method (making holes for water absorption, accommodate soil sediments and sources of organic matter). The practice of sustainable land management by coffee farmers is in line with the objectives of social forestry, namely the use of forests to improve welfare without neglecting forest sustainability.