Penelitian ini mengkaji kelayakan finansial dan dampak dari model pengelolaan ternak yang ditemukan di sekitar hutan Gunung Mutis di Pulau Timor. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara terhadap 40 masyarakat sekitar hutan. Terdapat dua model pengelolaan ternak yang ditemukan di sekitar hutan. Model pertama adalah model pemeliharaan ternak di dalam kandang dan model kedua adalah model penggembalaan ternak di hutan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kedua model layak secara finansial. Namun demikian, jika menggunakan biaya tenaga kerja komersial, model pemeliharaan ternak di dalam kandang secara finansial tidak layak untuk dilakukan, sedangkan model penggembalaan di hutan layak secara finansial. Model pengelolaan ternak di dalam hutan berdampak negatif terhadap regenerasi pohon sedangkan model pemeliharaan ternak di dalam kandang tidak berdampak negatif terhadap kelestarian hutan. Dari hasil penelitian disarankan agar pemerintah membatasi areal untuk penggembalaan ternak di hutan.Kata kunci: kelayakan finansial; model silvopasture; Mutis; penggembalaan ternak hutan; Timor Livestock Management Models Around Mt. Mutis Forest and Its Impact on Forest SustainabilityAbstractThe study examined the financial feasibility and impacts of livestock management models found around Mt. Mutis forest in Timor Island of Indonesia. Data was collected through interviewing 40 communities around the forest. There were two livestock management models around the forest, the first model was livestock management which raise livestock in the cattle pen, and the second model was livestock management which graze livestock in the forest. This study found that both livestock management models were financially feasible. However, if commercial cost of workers was counted, the livestock management model which raise livestock in the cattle pen was financially not feasible while livestock management model which graze livestock in the forest was financially feasible. Livestock management model which graze livestock in the forest however had negative impacts on the regeneration of trees. On the basis of this study, it is suggested that the government should limit the forest area that could be used for forest grazing.
The Changing Face of Cattle Raising and Forest Grazing in the Bhutan Himalaya
