Economic Potential of Species Diversity in Agroforestry System Buffer Zones

Abstract

Abstract Rantau Rasau is one of the buffer villages in the Berbak and Sembilang National Parks where located between the Batanghari River and Berbak National Park Area. This village has potential enhancement community economy based on vegetation diversity. However, its baseline data is still limited. The objectives of this study were to 1) analyze stand structure, vegetation composition and diversity in an agroforestry system, 2) investigate the economic potential of vegetation diversity in the agroforestry system of Rantau Rasau Village, a buffer zone of Berbak National Park, Jambi. The method used was purposive sampling and vegetation analysis. The agroforestry type in Rantau Rasau Village is a simple agroforestry system. The value of diversity index at pole and tree levels belonged to the low category (H’<2). Species richness (R) at the pole level was moderate, while at the tree level was low. Important value index (IVI) showed that the dominant species were coconut (Cocos nucifera), areca nut (Areca catechu), rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), and coffee (Coffea robusta). The dominant crops were bananas (Musa sp.) and cassava. Agroforestry in this village supports the achievement of SDGs point 15.4 and 15.9 by increasing the communities’ income by USD 8,4711.11/year.