Ecotourism development in National Parks: A new paradigm of forest management in Indonesia

Abstract

The forest management in Indonesia is currently using a new paradigm, one of which is the involvement of local communities. This paradigm applied throughout Indonesia, especially in state forest areas and customary forests. National parks are part of state forests where management involves the community. One of the management methods used is community-based ecotourism which has widely implemented to communities around the national park. This approach used to improve people livelihoods and to minimize forest encroachment, illegal logging, and illegal hunting. In this relation, this article aims to provide a description of the Indonesian research literature on ecotourism development program regarding forest management in the community around national park areas. It found that ecotourism plays a role in the forest management by improving forest management and maintaining biodiversity, including protection of endangered species and their habitats. Meanwhile, ecotourism also empowering local communities, providing direct and indirect economic benefits. Nevertheless, comprehensive management planning is needed to minimize the ecotourism impacts, such as wildlife behavior and morphological change. The previous studies give understanding about ecotourism development in national parks that can be useful to improve national park management programs. However, further studies are still needed to support sustainable national park management.