MAMMALS AND BIRD CONSERVATION STRATEGIES THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED WILDLIFE WATCHING ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN PERHUTANI AREA IN PONCOKUSUMO, MALANG DISTRICT, EAST JAVA

Abstract

Perhutani area in Poncokusumo is inhabited by endemic and protected mammals and birds. However the data of the species are still lacking while the wildlife is threatened by forest conversion and hunting activities. Â This study aims to determine mammals and bird conservation strategies through wildlife watching ecotourism based on community. The objectives are survey mammals and birds species in the Perhutani area in Poncokusumo, analyze the perception and knowledge of the community and visitors toward wildlife, analyze local people and visitors perception on idea to develop wildlife watching ecotourism and conducted SWOT analysis to formulate mammals and birds conservation strategy through wildlife watching ecotourism based on local community. The results showed that the Perhutani forest in Poncokusumo has 13 species of mammals and 54 species of birds and included in the category with very good quality of fauna diversity. Local people and visitor perceptions towards mammals and birds are vary, but most of the respondents are support the idea of developing wildlife watching ecotourism. From the SWOT analysis result, there are 5 strategic recommendations. This study suggest that mammals and birds conservation through idea in developing wildlife watching ecotourism based on community in perhutani area of Poncokusumo is possible to be applied.