Social forestry-based conservation through eco-tourism in the village forest of Talaga Paca, North Halmahera Regency

Abstract

Talaga Paca used to be a community resettlement village of an isolated indigenous community o hongana ma nyawa or Tugutil in North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province. In 2019, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry gave approval for the management of a forest area of 865 ha for 35 years in the scheme of village forest to the Talaga Paca Village as part of the social forestry program. Through a wide and strong collaboration between parties, the community is committed to develop ecotourism to improve the community welfare and the conservation of nature. The exploration of biodiversity and ecotourism potential was carried out. There are 36 species of birds identified, some of which are endemic and protected birds. Lake tour, jungle tracking, bird watching, and caving are some ecotourism attractions in the Talaga Paca ecotourism. A total of 30 people of Talaga Paca responded very positive to the social forestry and ecotourism programs in relation with the community empowerment and conservation using the Likert scale. Currently, the people of Talaga Paca have begun to receive the economic benefits of the presence of tourists, and they have a willingness to conserve the nature voluntarily.