Perception and Awareness of Local Community to A “Green Wall” Forest Restoration Programme in the Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, Indonesia

Abstract

Forest restoration activities have been being carried out across the globe in order to improve degraded forest ecosystem. For Indonesia context, forest restoration in conservation areas need to consider both ecological aspects and regulating access for the community. A study on perceptions and awareness of local community towards restoration program was conducted from April to May 2021 in Cihanyawar Village, Sukabumi District, West Java, Indonesia. The village located adjacent to the Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (GGPNP), one of Indonesia’s conservation area that has been gazeted as UNESCO’s biosphere reserve since 1982. The objective of this study is to assess perception and awareness of local community towards “Green Wall” restoration program in the GGPNP. We employed questionnaires method for assessing socio-economic of community. Socio-economic analyses of 100 respondents show that they are at the age range between 30 -50 years (48%), low education level (73%), the majority work as farmers (96%), with the income ranging from 1 to 3 million Rupiah (US$ 69 to 207) per month (83%). Based on respondents’ age, education level, occupation, and income level, they have a moderate level of perception and awareness of green wall restoration program. Chi-square test shows that the level of community perception is not influenced by age and education levels but influenced by occupation and income levels. While the community awareness level is not influenced by age, occupancy and income level, but influenced by the education level. The results of the study provide evidence that restoring ecosystem is important for the social and economic aspects of communities around conservation area.