Agroforestry practices of the buttu puang forest farmer group in Community Forest Areas, West Sulawesi, Indonesia: A Sustainability Status Report

Abstract

The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2024 identified environmental issues, including extreme weather events, Earth system changes, biodiversity loss, and natural resource scarcity, as the primary global risks for the coming decade. To address these risks, Indonesia implements agroforestry within its social forestry programs, which plays a crucial role in improving community welfare and supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sustainable forest management. This study aims to analyze the sustainability status of agroforestry practices in the Buttu Puang Forest Farmer Group within the Community Forest of Mirring Village, Binuang Sub-district, Polewali Mandar Regency, West Sulawesi Province, using the Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS) method through a Rapid Appraisal for Agroforestry Systems (RAP-AFS) approach. The results indicate that the sustainability status of agroforestry in the Buttu Puang Forest Farmer Group is classified as moderately sustainable, with a multidimensional index value of 56.02%. The index values for the respective dimensions include the ecological dimension at 48.35% (less sustainable), the social dimension at 58.18% (moderately sustainable), and the technological dimension at 53.39% (moderately sustainable). The sensitive attributes influencing the sustainability status of these agroforestry practices encompass organic fertilization, plant species diversity, the availability of seedlings and organic materials, farmers’ education levels, awareness of forest conservation, ownership of agricultural tools, and the application of agroforestry technology. This study recommends improving the management of these sensitive attributes to enhance agroforestry sustainability and support the achievement of SDGs in the Community Forest Area of the Buttu Puang Forest Farmer Group.