Socioeconomic characteristics of communities utilizing land in forest areas in the Maros Watershed

Abstract

The community has used the land throughout the area without exception in the forest area. The function of forest areas also varies based on the biophysical conditions of a land. The Maros River Basin has a complex forest area function ranging from production forest, protection forest to conservation forest (National Park). In addition, the Maros watershed also has its own uniqueness in the form of a karst ecosystem and biodiversity. This requires information related to activities, and the role of forests for people who use land in forest areas to meet their daily needs. Based on this, this study aims to analyze land use patterns, and socio-economic characteristics of the people in the Maros River Basin. This analysis begins with spot image analysis, and land use interpretation. The second analysis conducts detailed observations of land use in the field based on the results of land use interpretations that indicate community activities in forest areas. The last analysis is the socio-economic conditions, and the influence of the role of the forest on the community in using land in the forest area. The results of the analysis show that each area function is dominated by land use patterns in the form of dry land mixed with shrubs, rice fields, plantations, plantation forests, and secondary forests. Land use in the form of dry land mixed with shrubs is used as seasonal crops such as corn and horticulture. The use of plantation land, the community gets results in the form of candlenut and coffee. The use of plantation forest land is used to obtain pine resin, while the community uses the secondary forest as non-timber forest products such as honey bees and bamboo. The level of education of people who use forest areas is still low and the average income from the use of these areas is Rp. 1,372,679, - lower than the minimum wage in South Sulawesi Province.