Year: 2026 | Month: August | Volume: 13 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 234-257
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260824
Development of Ecotourism in Forest Areas under the Community Plantation Forest Scheme in Penopa Village, Lamandau Regency
Yerifetrik, Hafizianor1, Eko Rini Indrayatie2
1,2Department of Forestry, Master Program of Forestry, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarbaru, Indonesia.
Corresponding Author: Yerifetrik
ABSTRACT
Penopa Village, Lamandau Regency, Central Kalimantan, has abundant natural resources, high biodiversity, and historical/cultural heritage with rich natural potential. Therefore, it is necessary to explore this potential and develop it into a tourist attraction. The purpose of this study is to identify tourism potential for development within the management area of the Mitra Pamaingan Community Plantation Forest, describe the socio-economic and cultural conditions of the local community, analyze community perceptions around the Community Plantation Forest permit area, and formulate an ecotourism development strategy for the Mitra Pamaingan Community Plantation Forest. The study employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Informants were selected using purposive sampling, whereby the researchers chose participants based on specific relevant criteria. Data were obtained and collected directly from respondents and informants through questionnaires, direct field observations, and semi-structured interviews. The results indicate that the Mitra Pamaingan Community Plantation Forest tourism area has strong potential for development. The social conditions of the communities surrounding the Mitra Pamaingan Community Plantation Forest in Penopa Village show that the general level of education is still relatively low. Given these social conditions, the community strongly hopes that the development of tourism in the Mitra Pamaingan Community Plantation Forest will create new employment opportunities. The findings on community perceptions regarding tourism development in the Mitra Pamaingan Community Plantation Forest demonstrate very strong support, both from the local community and the relevant government authorities. The SWOT strategic positioning diagram for ecotourism development in the Mitra Pamaingan Community Plantation Forest management area shows that the ecotourism management plan is positioned in the axis x positive and y positive. The ecotourism development strategy for the Mitra Pamaingan Community Plantation Forest can be pursued through four approaches: following up on regional regulations related to tourism, enhancing management capacity and creative ideas, providing employment opportunities for the local community, and collaborating with the community in programs to improve welfare in order to realize a sustainable tourist destination.
Keywords: Ecotourism; Forest Area; Community Forest Plantation; Penopa Village
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