Analisis Potensi dan Kelayakan Pengembangan Ekowisata di Taman Nasional Batang Gadis Kabupaten Mandailing Natal

Abstract

Batang Gadis National Park (TNBG) covering an area of 108.000 hectares is the 42 national park in Indonesia which was enacted by the Government of Indonesia through the decree of Forestry Minister No, 125/ Menhut-II/2004 dated 29 April 2004. This was an important achievement that leads to the conservation of remaining forests in Kabupaten Mandailing Natal.

Batang Gadis National Park is a strategic area at local, national, and global level as the area possesses important ecology spectrum with high and unique biodiversity for natural resources potential and conservation efforts. When the forests are well conserved and its ecological services (climate regulation, maintaining soil fertility, hydrology control) with sustainable biodiversity function and economy function are sustained, the TNBG will be utilized as a basic capital for the regional development. One of the development aspects is the ecotourism. The ecotourism development in an area with high natural resource values will provide support to the conservation and integrity of the ecosystem. The ecotourism development requires good quality and integrity of the ecosystem. The ecotourism development can not also be excluded from the socio economy and cultural aspects, therefore its development requires concise planning and management.

This research is aimed at identifying factors that support and constrain the development of ecotourism and analyzing the potential and feasibility of ecotourism development in Batang Gadis National Park in Kabupaten Mandailing Natal. The approach that was used is analysis descriptive method. Quantitative analysis was also used to develop data that was gathered through library collection, interview, and observation in the field. This data was analysed to draw some important conclusions and answers to the raised issues. The recommendations were made based on the specific conclusions formulated from the analysis results.

The research results indicate relevant potential and feasibility of Batang Gadis National Park for the development of ecotourism in the region. However, the batang Gadis National Park with its high potential for tourism poses some threats to the sustainability of the area and tourism objects. The research has indicated some major supporting and constraining factors as well as recommendations needed for the development of ecotourism.