Model Pengelolaan Perhutanan Sosial Berdasarkan Modal Sosial dan Sistem Ekologi Sosial di Sumatera Utara

Abstract

Social Forestry (SF) is a strategic policy for community-based forest management that aims to improve local livelihoods while safeguarding the ecological functions of forests. The implementation of SF in North Sumatra demonstrates varying degrees of success, influenced by differences in ecological conditions, socio-cultural characteristics, institutional capacity, and the dynamics of actor relations. This study aims to formulate a sustainable Social Forestry management model based on social capital and the Social-Ecological System (SES) framework. The research was conducted between 2022 and 2024 in five SF schemes: Customary Forest (HA), Village Forest (HD), Community Forestry (HKm), Community Plantation Forest (HTR), and Conservation Partnership (KK). A mixed-methods approach with a sequential quantitative–qualitative design was employed. Quantitative analysis examined vegetation composition and structure as a proxy for ecological conditions, and measured social capital among Social Forestry permit holders. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and expert judgement to identify key variables, actor roles, and SES elements within SF management. The results indicate that each SF scheme exhibits distinct ecological and institutional characteristics. Social capital, both cognitive and structural, plays a critical role in strengthening governance, enhancing participation, and stabilizing collective action. The SES analysis demonstrates that SF sustainability is shaped by the interaction among forest resources, resource users, infrastructure providers, and public infrastructure. However, the conventional SES framework has limitations in capturing socio-economic dynamics. This prompted the development of an extended SES+E approach that explicitly integrates economic dimensions as determinants of management behaviour. This study proposes a sustainable Social Forestry management model that prioritizes social capital strengthening, multi-level governance integration, and contextualized approaches tailored to institutional typologies in North Sumatra.