Efektivitas Program Perhutanan Sosial terhadap Peningkatan Pendapatan Kelompok Tani Hutan di Kecamatan Sembalun, Kabupaten Lombok Timur

Abstract

Social forestry programs constitute a strategic forestry policy instrument designed to improve the welfare of communities living around forest areas through legal access to sustainable forest management. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of social forestry programs in increasing the income of forest farmer groups in Sembalun District, East Lombok Regency. The research employed an empirical juridical approach using a descriptive qualitative method. Data were collected through documentation studies, field observations, and analysis of previous studies related to social forestry, agroforestry, and community forest management in West Nusa Tenggara and other regions in Indonesia. The findings indicate that social forestry programs have a positive impact on increasing community income through the utilization of non-timber forest products, the development of agroforestry systems, and the strengthening of forest farmer group institutions. Income improvement is influenced by legal access to forest land management, commodity diversification, farmer group participation, and institutional support from the government and local communities. However, the effectiveness of the program still faces several challenges, including limited business capital, low managerial capacity of farmer groups, and inadequate market access for forest products. This study argues that the success of social forestry programs is determined not only by legal access to forest areas but also by institutional governance strengthening and the sustainability of community-based forest economies.