Kajian etnobotani masyarakat di sekitar Taman Nasional Gunung Merapi: studi kasus di Desa Umbulharjo, Sidorejo, Wonodoyo dan Ngablak

Abstract

Mount Merapi National Park (TNGM) has total an area about 6410 ha, with the details: in Central Java Province about 5126.01 ha and in Province of Yogyakarta Special Region about 1283.99 ha. By looking at the potential of plants and community culture in TNGM region (in the terms of plant utilization) allows interaction between community and that region. Therefore, the study of ethnobotany community around TNGM region needs to be done. The purpose of this study are to know and identify the various utilization of plants by community around TNGM and also to know kind of interaction between community and potential plant diversity in TNGM region. The research was conducted in 4 (four) villages in the surround TNGM region included the Village Umbulharjo, Sidorejo, Wonodoyo and Ngablak. This research carried out about 2 months that started from June to August 2010. The method used in this research was a field survey. The activities undertaken in this research included interviews, making of herbarium, data processing and data analysis. The data was collected in the form of primary data (ethnobotany) and secondary data (general conditions of the location). Primary data collection techniques was conducted through interviews with the respondents (people around TNGM) whereas secondary data was done through literature studies. Based on research results, indicate that the characteristics of respondents in the surround TNGM that most livelihood as farmers and low educated (Elementary School), with the largest age rate is 16-40 years. Plants that used by the community about 103 kinds, and can be differentiated into eleven groups of functions, namely medicinal plants (47 kinds), ornamental (11 kinds), aromatic (7 kinds), food (40 kinds), fodder (7 kinds), botanical pesticides (4 kinds), dyes and tannins (2 kinds), firewood (10 kinds), ceremonies (13 kinds), building materials (20 kinds) and also rope materials, wicker and crafts (6 kinds). Community around TNGM has a level of interaction with Merapi volcano which close enough. This can be seen from the social and cultural developing. The suggestion needs to be done from this study results is further development of the useful plants utilization in order to increase the community income around TNGM, especially after Mount Merapi eruption through kinds cultivation based on traditional knowledge of the society.