Adil Siswanto, Moeljadi, Djumilah Hadiwijojo and Rofiaty
Abstract
Public participation effect and public welfare as a mediation forest management was conducted in forest conservation in the Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia. The problem faced that buffer villages Wonorejo, Watu Kebo, Bajul Mati, Sumber Waru and Sumber Anyar always exploit the forest product for their economic reasons. The purposes of this research are to: (1) analyze and explain incentive participation program has a positive significant effect on public participation; (2) analyze and explain social capital has a positive significant effect on public participation; (3) analyze and explain public welfare mediates incentive participation program effect on public participation; (4) analyze and explain public welfare mediates social capitals effect on public participation; and (5) analyze and explain public welfare has a positive significant effect to optimize public participation. The survey method and questioner by purposive sampling with 170 households as a member or group of the forest community training centre in the buffer villages. Validity and reliability of instrument and examine hypothesis using software Warp PLS. The results shows: (1) incentive participation program has a positive significant effect on public participation; (2) social capital does not have a positive significant effect on public participation; (3) public welfare mediates incentive participation program on public participation partially; (4) public welfare mediates social capitals effect on public participation partially; and (5) public welfare has positive significant effect on public participation to optimize public participation in conservation forest management. Practical implications of this research are able to give knowledge and information of local government and people to consider the importance of public participation in conservation forest management in the Baluran National Park.