SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND HOME GARDEN UTILIZATION BY THE COMMUNITY IN THE CONSERVATION AREA OF WAN ABDUL RACHMAN GRAND FOREST PARK, SUNGAI LANGKA VILLAGE, PESAWARAN REGENCY, LAMPUNG PROVINCE

Abstract

Home gardens have significant potential to improve communities' economic, ecological, and social welfare. This study examines the socio-economic conditions and home garden utilization practices of the community in the Wan Abdul Rachman Grand Forest Park (Tahura WAR) conservation area, located in Sungai Langka Village, Pesawaran Regency, Lampung Province. Data was collected through direct interviews using structured questionnaires, with respondents selected via the Simple Random Sampling method. Descriptive analytical methods were employed for data analysis. The results reveal that 83.33% of farmers in Sungai Langka are adults aged 27–40 years, all male. The farmers belong to three ethnic groups: Javanese, Lampungese, and Sundanese, with Javanese being the majority. Most farmers (63.33%) have a secondary education level, and 83.33% engage in secondary occupations. According to the Indonesian Statistical Agency/BPS (2021) income classification, 74.5% of the population falls into the middle-income category. The average homegarden size is approximately 100 m². The majority of homegardens (90.33%) are utilized as yard gardens, followed by livestock shelters (66.33%), ornamental gardens (40.66%), and fishponds (20.55%). These findings highlight the pivotal role of homegardens in supporting the livelihoods of communities near conservation areas. This study underscores the importance of optimizing homegarden management to enhance community welfare while mitigating pressures on conservation forests.