Implementation Of MEE (Madical, Education, Eco-Tourism): A Strategy For Collaborative Forest Management In Meru Betiri National Park

Abstract

Global issues of greenhouse effects include the depletion of the ozone layer and the increases ground surface temperature. Responses to these issues have been attempted to empower and enhance the role of community participation in sustainable and equitable forest resource management. Since 1993 Konservasi Alam Indonesia Lestari (KAIL) - an Indonesian NGO in Jember Regency, East Java - starts empowering the forest buffer community with MEE (Medical, Education, Ecotourism) site model. The purpose of this paper is to describe the model of MEE in empowering forest buffer communities, describe the ecological, economic and social impact of the model, and describe the collaborative forest management. The success of MEE site model reduces negative perceptions on communities that have less conservation awareness. Community-based forest resources management need to integrate ecological and economic value in achieving forest conservation and community's welfare.