Conservation in a Sacred Forest: An Integrated Approach to Assessing the Management of a Community-Based Conservation Site.

摘要

In this research I use integrated methodology from the natural sciences and social sciences to assess the effectiveness of a community-managed sacred forest at maintaining long-term conservation at the site. Conservation management goals include not only preserving biodiversity, but also ensuring a sustainable livelihood for local people. I conducted research at the sacred forest and nature reserve known as Cagar Alam Leuweung Sancang (CALS), located on the south coast of West Java. Although it is officially designated as a nature reserve, and therefore legally inaccessible without a permit, the area has been attracting spiritual tourists for generations because of its sacred nature to Sundanese (West Javan) people. Spiritual tourists enter the forest despite its legal designation. Here, I assess the impacts of spiritual tourism on the forest by evaluating the effects of such tourism on the endangered and endemic Javan gibbons (Hylobates moloch). I use structured and semi-structured interviews of spiritual tourists and local stakeholders to assess the management of CALS as a community-based conservation site. Javan gibbons do change their behavior and ranging patterns in response to human disturbance, but variations in behavior among groups indicate that they also possess the behavioral flexibility to survive some levels of human disturbance. Assessments of CALS management are promising for promoting continued conservation of the area, as spiritual tourists are likely to continue to visit, which provides financial benefits to the Sancang villagers. However, some management problems remain, including the enforcement of rules and minimizing spiritual tourist impacts on the forest. I thus conclude by providing specific recommendations for future management in CALS.