Ethnoecology Of Local Communities At The Buffer Area Of The Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Mount Gede Pangrango National Park area (Taman Nasional Gunung Gede Pangrango or TNGGP) are mountains area in  west java that has a high biodiversity. Local communities generally manage its natural resources with an orientation for the benefit of daily life. The current study aimed at identifying local insight/wisdom and socio culture knowledge of people dwell in the surrounding the buffer forest area, particularly Bodogol natural forest area, against preservation of TNGGP. The research method was conducted using community members as informants by means of direct observation in the field and open ended interviews in subvillages closest to the buffer forest area. The data was analyzed using interactive model including components, data collection, data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusion. The results showed that local communities cultivated three plant species at the Bodogol buffer forest area, furthermore, they recognized their role as part of the social environment  and knew how to adapt to the culture involved in that social relationship. This study concluded that the traditional community has local wisdom  and high socio-cultural knowledge that supports the National Park preservation programs.