ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF COMMUNITY FOREST AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Community forest is a forest area surrounding or near a community. People in the community use ecosystem services of community forest in 4 aspects in that being a source of production, the control of natural balance mechanisms, cultural and supportive aspects. The ecosystem service of the community forest, therefore, makes the population in the community have a well-being. In addition, forests play an important role in storing carbon in the form of wood. Currently, ecosystem service value of the forest is being assessed as a tool for determining the worthiness and damage that may occur from land use change projects under government policies or private concessions. Subsequently, the economic responsibility for the use of ecosystem services is demonstrated by paying for the services of the system. Ecosystem services of community forests are factors that affect economy, occupation, culture, tradition, wisdom, food, herb, and beliefs about sacred things in the forest. Moreover, community forest affects environmental quality and biodiversity by reducing the problem of environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity. It plays an important role in the sequestration and absorption of carbon from the atmosphere. There is no law to support joint management between the people and the government in the protected forest area, community forest and coastal resource management. The government uses measures to encourage communities to participate in the management process under the community forest project but there is disparity in access to resources.  and the problem of ecological degradation. Sustainable use of forests requires proper management by the community participation in setting rules for sharing resources and taking care of the forest as a source of ecosystem services of communities and outsiders.