PERSEPSI MASYARAKAT TERHADAP KEBERADAAN HUTAN KEMASYARAKATAN DI NAMBO LEMPEK KABUPATEN BANGGAI

The oldest Community Forest in Central Sulawesi is located in the village of Nambo Lempek. This HKm is expected to be a model for other HKm. Therefore, community perception needs to be considered because the level of understanding and attitude towards the existence of HKm greatly affects the sustainability of its functions. This study aims to determine how the public's perception of the existence of HKm and the relationship between community characteristics and perceptions.The research was carried out around the HKm area, Nambo Lempek Village, Nambo District, Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi Province for 1 month from May 2021 to June 2021. The sampling technique used by the researcher was a simple random sampling system. This research data collection through filling out questionnaires with a Likert scale conducting open-ended interviews.This study shows that the public's perception of the existence of HKm on understanding is high and attitudes are very high. This happens because the community has been managing and feeling the benefits of HKm for ±21 years. There are two characteristics that have a relationship with understanding the benefits of HKm both economically, ecologically and socially, namely the level of education has a real relationship and income outside the HKm has a very real relationship. The two relationships can be said to be unidirectional because the correlation coefficient is positive. Meanwhile, people's attitudes towards HKm are not influenced by characteristics. The contribution of all characteristics in influencing perception is the understanding of 13.9% and the attitude of 0.5%.
Keywords: Community forest, perception, understanding, attitude.