Roles of Social Capital in Promoting Effective Management of Non-Timber Forest Products for Poverty Alleviation Around Rinjani Mountain, Lombok, Indonesia

Abstract

"Poverty and forest degradation has been discussed widely for their causal relationship. Poverty has been claimed as one source among the others for continous forest degradation in West Nusa Tenggara province - Indonesia. Due to the poverty (about 25% of the total population of West Nusa Tenggara province), the communities who are living around the forest have direct and indirectly used the forest/the commons as the main source of income. They cut the trees for cash to fullfill their daily needs, and even they encroach the forest for agricultural activities. They may also work with illegal loggers from outside as labour to cut trees and get the cash to support their families. As results, some studies confirmed for continous degradation of the Rinjani forest that to some extent has led to further impacts such as the lost of springs and decreasing of watter supply, and these have affected agricultural practices. On the basis of this, it is interesting to learn what are the roles of social capital in the existing forest management, especially in helping the community to address their social and economic issues and problems through effective management of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). The main aim of this study is to understand the existence of all types of social capitals at the targeted communities and to find out the actual and expected roles of social capitals in the existing forest management, especially in managing the NTFPs. This study of the commons will be carried out at the Sasak Community who is living at the feet of Rinjani mountain (Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara province - Indonesia). Qualitative and quantitative methods will be applied for the study. Data collection will be done through observation, in-depth interview, focus group discussions and small survey."