Perception of former illegal logger to agroforestry in Tetelan land of Meru Betiri National Park, Indonesia

Forest land conflict in Meru Betiri National Park is considered as one of the kind of land conflicts in the forest conservation of Indonesia. The conflict has been taking place between MBNP and the people who live around the forest area (Wonoasri, Sanenrejo, Andongrejo, Curahnongko, and Kandangan) since 1998. The purpose of this research is to know the history of land conflict in Meru Betiri National Park and the impact of land rehabilitation on farmer's income This study was conducted in 2016. Qualitative research was conducted to obtain the historical information of MBNP land conflict and the survey was done to collect data of contribution of cultivation activities in the rehabilitation land (conflict area) on the income of farmers. The forest land conflict took place due to the vacant authority of the central government in 1998 which spread to the local government, so the government is not able to control the illegal harvesting of forest resources and forest area encroachment conducted by the public. In 1999, the local politicians of Indonesian Democratic Party proposed to the Ministry of Forestry in order the conflicted area of MBNP can be cultivated by the people around the area. In 2000, The Forestry Minister issued regulations stated that the assigned land is a rehabilitation zone. The rehabilitation zone must be planted with Multiple Purposes Tree Species (MPTS) and seasonal crops by using agroforestry system. The purpose of MPTS planting is for reforestation and the seasonal crops plantation is addressed for increasing the income of the farmers. After implementing the program for 15 years, the income generated from the rehabilitation land only Rp. 3,517,100,- (US $ 1 = Rp. 13,400,-) per year or 14,49% of the total income of the farmers. The income from the rehabilitation land contributed as the third source of incomes b esides the non land-based sources of income and the income from migrated remittance.

Meru Betiri National Park was one of the national parks in Indonesia which has the main function as a biodiversity conservation area. An area covering an area of 66,068.55 hectares is under threat from deforestation with the loss of forest cover covering an area of 3,382 hectares or 6.5% of the area, one of which is caused by illegal logging activities. Taking into account this condition, the Meru Betiri National Park Office is taking a preemptive approach through economic empowerment for the households of ex-illegal loggers. The aim of this research is to determine: 1) Household income of ex-illegal loggers, (2) differences in household income of ex-illegal loggers based on their type of income. The location of this research is Sanenrejo Village and Andongrejo Village, Tempurejo District, Jember Regency with 71 respondents from households of ex-illegal loggers. For the first objective of this research, quantitative descriptive analysis was used and for the second objective, the independent sample t test was used. According to the findings of this research, the average household income of ex-illegal loggers is IDR 2,384,823 per month. The household income of ex-illegal loggers from the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors has significant differences. This shows that non-agricultural income sources for ex-illegal loggers households have greater opportunities to be developed while still paying attention to non-agricultural sector income sources.

Abstract. Hidayati AN, Zuhud EAM, Andarwulan N. 2020. Population structure, vegetation composition and economic potentials of Parkia timoriana in Meru Betiri National Park, East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 203-210. Kedawung (Parkia timoriana (DC.) Merr.) is one of rare medicinal plant species because it is only found in a small part of Indonesia. P. timoriana has high ecological and economic potential because it contains various active compounds such as anticancer. This study was aimed to investigate the population structure, vegetation community composition, and distribution, as well as the potential production and economic values of P. timoriana in rehabilitation zone in Meru Betiri National Park, East Java, Indonesia. The methods used were vegetation analysis, direct observation, and in-depth interviews with selected respondents using purposive sampling. We found that P. timoriana population at the study sites was only at tree and pole stages, while no sapling and seedling was found. This condition implies that regeneration of P. timoriana at the study sites was not happening which can threaten its sustainability in the future. P. timoriana dominated the vegetation at the studied sites which were indicated by the highest importance value index. Utilization of P. timoriana by the local community was by selling the seeds to medicinal industries or used as herbal medicine. While having conservation values, the management of P. timoriana stands in Andongrejo Resort also had the potential to generate economic values up to 17.6 billion rupiahs. Considering the great economic potential of P. timoriana and to ensure sustainability, so that nursery, breeding and regeneration of P. timoriana should be made in order to obtain the best quality seeds.

Administratively, Meru Betiri National Park includes Banyuwangi Regency and Jember Regency, East Java. This research aims to optimize the use of social media for tourism development in Meru Betiri National Park. The research method used is a qualitative method with descriptive analysis to identify social media promotion strategies for the development of Meru Betiri National Park tourism. The technique for collecting data sources uses literature studies and other journal references. Meru Betiri National Park is mostly a tropical rainforest located in the Banyuwangi and Jember districts. The biodiversity in Meru Betiri National Park can be an object of attraction for tourists. Meru Betiri National Park conducts advertising promotions on the websites tribunnewswiki.com and katadata.co.id.

of the Republic of Indonesia and is located in Jember Regency. Meru Betiri National Park (TNMB) is a conservation area that functions as a life support system which also acts as a means of supporting research, knowledge and education as well as supporting agricultural cultivation, recreation, and tourism and is directly adjacent to the village of Wonoasri, which is the fostered village of the Park. Meru Betiri National. Wonoasri Village was appointed as TNMB's target village because of its location which is one of the supporting villages for the conservation area. This study to study (1) the reasons why farmers participated in the land rehabilitstion program for rehabilitation land in the meru betiri area in Wonoasri Village, Tempurejo District, Jember Regency, (2) the participation process that occurred in the land rehabilitation program for the Meru Betiri area in Wonoasri Village, Tempurejo District, Jember Regency. The determination of the research area was carried out deliberately (purposive method). The research used qualitative method. research area used was Wonoasri Village, Tempurejo District, Jember Regency. The method of determining information in research that uses done purposively is selected with certain considerations and goals. The results showed that: (1) rehab farmers participate in the rehabilitation program for rehab land to conserve forests again, (2) Rehab farmers are directly involved in the planning process to evaluate economic benefits.
 Keywords: Taman Nasional Meru Betiri, Wonoasri, Land Rehabilitation

Mould is an important part of the eukaryotic organism in the forest ecosystem. The diversity of fungi in the Indonesian forest, especially in Bandealit Resorts is largely due to the conditions of vegetation and the supportive environment. The purpose of this study is to study the diversity of macroscopic mushroom in the Bandealit Resorts, Meru Betiri National Park, Jember Regency, East Java. Macroscopic mushroom diversity data is scooped up by cruising methods. The mould found is recorded as data based on mushroom morphology such as colors, substrates, covering forms, stalk forms, and has pores or lamella. In addition to environmental data of temperature, humidity, and headedness is also taken to determine biotic and environmental factors that foster the growth of mushroom. Mushroom documentation was then passed by way of comparison. Based on the identification, we found a fungus with two Phylum: Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, with as many as 33 species belong to 8 ordos. The Basidiomycota group is most commonly found and with the most dominated order of Polyporales. Most of the mushrooms are found in soot substrates.

Andongrejo Village is one of the buffer villages of Meru Betiri National Park (TNMB). The lack of baseline data related to the diversity of vegetation in agroforestry system surrounding TNMB requires further research as a conservation effort and sustainable ecosystem management purpose. The objectives of this research were to: (a) analyze the structure and composition of vegetation in agroforestry system, (b) analyze the diversity of vegetation in agroforestry system, as well as (c) analyze correlation of canopy density with the diversity of seedlings and understorey in agroforestry system in Andongrejo village, Jember Regency, East Java. The method used was purposive vegetation sampling and vegetation analysis. The number of individual (ind/ha) in all three canopy density classes did not show reverse J-curve. The dominant species found were Banana (Musa sp.), Teak (Tectona grandis), and Sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria). The species richness and diversity index at all tree level growth were clasified into low diversity and low species richness. The higher percentage of canopy density results in the higher individuals per ha and the number of species per ha (r = 0.500 and r = 0.696). The implementation of enrichment planting with species that has high economic value at all tree level growth are necessary. Introducing fruit species is one of alternative ways to increase the local community’s income and conserve the diversity in agroforestry system. Silviculture technique (eg prunning) is necessary to maintain the diversity and tree level growth in this location.

Exotic plants are plants that are introduced intentionally or unintentionally from their original habitat to a new habitat. One of the exotic plants that is potentially invasive is Chromolaena odorata. These plants are found a lot especially in the rehabilitation zone at Donglo Block Resort of Wonoasri, Meru Betiri National Park (MBNP). An initial effort to determine whether this exotic plant was potentially invasive was to use the distribution pattern of a plant population. This study aimed to determine the distribution pattern and area of cover of exotic plants C. odorata in rehabilitation zone at Donglo Block, Resort of Wonoasri MBNP. The sampling of C. odorata used the transect plot method systematically, which carried out in Donglo Block Resort of Wonoasri MBNP. Data analyzed using Morisita index. The map of distribution pattern of C. odorata was created using the Geographic Information System (GIS). Based on the results of the Morisita index, the value (Iδ) = 12.39, which means that C. odorata has a clumped distribution pattern. The distribution pattern of C. odorata can also be seen from the visualization of the spatial distribution map, which shows that the growth of C. odorata in plants or overlaps with each other, hence that it looks clustered. The coverage area of C. odorata in the study location was 596,5 m2 or 29.24% of the total area of the study (20,400 m2). Based on the results of the coverage area of C. odorata, it was indicated that this exotic species is not yet classified as an invasive species in the area.

The forest degradation and deforestation was widely occurred in Indonesia and Meru Betiri National Park is one of the area with illegal loggings threats. Bandealit Resort as one of the resort in Meru Betiri National Park was reported as the area with high activity of illegal loggings specifically in 2020. Based on this information, this research study aims to evaluate the degraded level of the forests using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Enhanced Vegetation Index (NDVI and EVI) so it can be managed and evaluated in the future. This research use direct and indirect observation methods in three areas with different damage levels. Direct observation was done by counting the number of species and the stands trees, while the indirect observation was analyzing the Landsat 8 Imagery in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The results showed that the A area had the lowest density with only 45 remaining trees than two others with more than 150 trees. The greenness levels imply the quality level of tree stand density, as higher the tree stand density, the higher the greenness. NDVI and EVI showed that A area had the range from low greenness (sparse density) to high greenness (medium density) than two others area had the higher greenness and densities.

The forest degradation and deforestation was widely occurred in Indonesia and Meru Betiri National Park is one of the area with illegal loggings threats. Bandealit Resort as one of the resort in Meru Betiri National Park was reported as the area with high activity of illegal loggings specifically in 2020. Based on this information, this research study aims to evaluate the degraded level of the forests using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Enhanced Vegetation Index (NDVI and EVI) so it can be managed and evaluated in the future. This research use direct and indirect observation methods in three areas with different damage levels. Direct observation was done by counting the number of species and the stands trees, while the indirect observation was analyzing the Landsat 8 Imagery in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The results showed that the A area had the lowest density with only 45 remaining trees than two others with more than 150 trees. The greenness levels imply the quality level of tree stand density, as higher the tree stand density, the higher the greenness. NDVI and EVI showed that A area had the range from low greenness (sparse density) to high greenness (medium density) than two others area had the higher greenness and densities.

This research aimed to determine the impact of degradation riparian tree diversity on water quality along some spring to its drains in East Java. This descriptive research conducted in selected springs and itsdrains in Jember, Kediri, Pasuruan, and Malang on April 2012 to January 2013. We used a spring water of Meru Betiri National Park as a reference site. Quality of riparian trees diversity and water were sampled with three replication.Data were tabulated by statistical analyzed using cluster and Spearman correlation. The result showed that species richness ofriparian tree in spring water and its drains has found were 69 species belonging to 28 families. Moraceae was key family of natural riparian tree and almost all the spring and its drains (92.75 %) were grown by native trees except in Kediri. All observed spring were degrading comparing to the natural one in Meru Betiri National Park where trees grown in strata A to E, and shown a highest diversity index (H=3.2). All water spring were observed in high quality but water in its downstream become turbid depend on the quality of treesriparian diversity grown around spring waters. Quality of riparian diversity was strongly influenced by land use and human activities such as illegal logging, intensive agriculture, and settlement. There was a positive correlation between riparian tree diversity, water transparency and color, but it had a negative correlation with pH value of water.Low pH, high water transparency and colorless water were found in stations where we found high tree species richness, diversity index, riparian width and stratified of tree.Keywords: Diversity quality, riparian tree, spring water , water quality.

Illegal logging has damaged the ecosystem of Meru Betiri National Park (henceforth defined as TNBM), as indicated by the loss of water sources and the destruction of the forest. As citizens around the forest, hardly can women do anything to address the problem, except see the ongoing forest destruction. This study scrutinizes women's perceptions of deforestation in Meru Betiri National Park. Women have limited access to TNMB management, making women the most disadvantaged due to forest destruction. This research aims to investigate women’s perceptions of deforestation in the national park through a phenomenological approach. Documentation and interviews were involved in data collection. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted descriptively. This study found that pessimism and powerlessness colored women's perception of the forest. Empty and infertile, without water sources and animals represent ironic women's subjective perception. The dominant patriarchal structure, corrupt forest management, and the view of illegal logging as a way of survival have reflected women's perceptions of TNMB deforestation.

Abstract. Rohman A, Wahyudi D, Subchan W, Jumadiawan. 2024. Bird community structure and host plant in Sukamade Resort, Meru Betiri National Park, East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 3295-3308. Meru Betiri National Park (MBNP), East Java, Indonesia, is classified as a conservation area. Management of Biological Natural Resources (MBNR) refers to bird communities in a habitat. Damage to biological natural resources causes a high threat of bird vulnerability and extinction. Birds play a crucial role as indicators of the environment. This research aimed to determine the community structure of birds and host plants at the Sukamade resort. We recorded 49 bird species and 21 host plants. We are actively identifying location points according to habitat variations. Resort offices have the highest diversity (H ' = 2.774). The jungle track has the highest bird evenness index (E = 0.754). Parang Kulon has the highest dominance index (D = 0.162). Pycnonotus goiavier (pg) had the highest abundance found at each location. Pavo muticus (pm) is a protected species according to Indonesian national law. A total of 21 plants were documented as the dominant vegetation. Our research revealed that Ficus benjamina (FB) had the highest frequency of visits by pollinators, and the prevailing avian behavior observed was perching. The presence of Haliaeetus leucogaster (hl) nesting on Artocarpus elasticus (AE) trees was documented. Meanwhile, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) results showed that four bird species, namely Merops leschenaulti (ml), Rhyticeros undulatus (ru), P. goiavier (pg), Pycnonotus simplex (ps), Anthracoceros albirostris (aa)) were correlated with two host plant species (A. elasticus (AE) and Albizia chinensis (AC)). Our results demonstrate a significant link between the presence of birds and host plants, underscoring their integral role in the ecology.

East Java Province has diverse geographical conditions and several areas with low levels of light pollution, making it a potential location for the construction of an observatory. This study aims to map these potential areas using ArcGIS software. The research is a library research with a qualitative descriptive approach. The data used include light pollution data from the Light Pollution Maps (LPM) website, wind speed and cloud data from the Weather Spark website, elevation data from Google Earth, and topographic data from the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Data collection was carried out through literature study and then analyzed using a descriptive method to identify areas that meet the criteria for observatory development. The results show that East Java has varied elevation levels and several regions with low light pollution. Based on the analysis, three main locations were identified as potential sites for observatory construction: Bromo National Park in Lumajang Regency, Ijen National Park in Bondowoso Regency, and Meru Betiri National Park in Jember Regency. These three locations meet the ideal criteria for an observatory, such as sufficient elevation, minimal light pollution, sparse settlements, and relatively stable climatic conditions.

Meru Betiri National Park is located in southern part of East Java Province. Inventory of orchid species was conducted to study orchid diversity in Meru Betiri National Park, especially in Bandealit coastal area. Observation of orchid within host trees was also done to study the preference host trees for orchid growth. It was recorded that there were 25 orchid species belonging to 20 genera. Twenty species of which are epiphyte and 5 species are terrestrial. The most common epiphyte orchids were Pomatocalpa latifolia, Pomatocalpa spicata, Rhynchostylis retusa, Micropera pallida and Grosourdya appendiculata. While terrestrial orchid was only found in a small number, with common terrestrial orchids were Corymborkis veratrifolia and Goodyera rubicunda. The most preference host trees for epiphyte orchid were Tectona grandis (Teak), Clausena indica, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Mangifera indica (Mango), but there is no specific relationshipbetween host trees and epiphyte orchid© 2007 Jurusan Biologi FMIPA UNS SurakartaKey words: orchid, host trees, Meru Betiri National Park