KONDISI SOSIAL EKONOMI MASYARAKAT DI SEKITAR TAMAN NASIONAL GUNUNG HALIMUN SALAK (Socio Economic Conditions of Communities Around Mount Halimun Salak National Park)

The management of Mount Halimun Salak National Park (MHSNP) was challenged by environmental issues such as degradation of natural resources, low economy of the communities living around the park, and increasing human population in the forest area. Support and participation from the communities to preserve the park will be difficult to achieve without endeavor to increase economy of the local communities and yet maintaining ecological balance. This study aimed to examine the socio economic characteristics of communities around MHSNP to provide recommendation to improve national park management. Research conducted from October 2012 to May 2013 by interviewing 297 respondents from 8 villages that were selected purposively. Data were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. The results showed that people living in and around MHSNP were relatively homogeneous socially. All respondents were Sundanese-moslems, classified as productive age (88%) with low levels of formal education (86.9%), nevertheless has a good level of health (85.18%). Most of the respondents (87.90%) were indigenous people. The average income was Rp 1.155 million/month and it was under the regional minimum wage (UMR) of West Java and Banten Province s. Average contributions of revenues from MHSNP land to total household income was 38.65% (medium catagory)