The suitability analysis of mangrove ecotourism in Balang Baru Village, Jeneponto District

Abstract

The potential of mangrove ecosystem resources in the Balang Baru village, Torowangi subdistrict, Jeneponto district is one of the mangrove ecosystem areas that is thought to meet the criteria to be developed into a mangrove ecotourism area, when viewed from both bioecological and socio-economic aspects. This research was conducted from February to March 2020. The purpose of the study was to identify the potential for ecotourism and analyze the suitability of ecotourism in the Balang Baru village, Jeneponto regency. Data collection was carried out through field surveys and interviews using a questionnaire. The data analysis used is the analysis of the suitability of the area for coastal tourism in the mangrove ecotourism category. The results showed that the potential for ecotourism in the Balang Baru mangrove ecosystem is that it has a mangrove forest area of about 50 ha. The mangrove species Avicennia alba and Rhizophora apiculata were found and various types of organisms, such as birds, reptiles, fish, molluscs and crustaceans, thus providing an attraction for the development of ecotourism in the Balang Baru village. Based on the results of the land suitability analysis with the mangrove ecotourism category, the mangrove area in Balang Baru is in the appropriate category to be developed into a mangrove ecotourism area.