Sialang Honey: Potency, Productivity, and Management in Musi Banyuasin (Case in Lubuk Bintialo Village, Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra)

摘要

Forest honey is one of the Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) produced from Apis dorsata. The existence of Apis is very closely related to the condition of the forest environment. In the Forest Environment A. dorsata has a role in helping to pollinate various plants which are also habitat for them such as the Sialang Tree. There is a dependency between A. dorsata and the forest that provides economic, ecological and social benefits. The study was conducted from January to March 2019 using qualitative methods. Data collection was carried out by observation, interview using questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and discussions with the community. The results of the study were analyzed using social analysis to explain data and facts with phenomena in the field. The results showed that A. dorsata had become a source of income for communities in Lubuk Bintialo Village. Honey is harvested at night regarding the culture and customs that have been carried out for generations. The entry of harvesters from outside makes the harvesting culture that has been inherited increasingly faded and extinct. At present, the productivity of sialang honey in Lubuk Bintialo Village is decreasing due to the conversion of forest into plantations. The conversion of forest caused decreasing if honey production because the availability of types of flowers as a food source of bee is increasingly limited. The conversion of forest is also causing difficulties for the community to cultivate, especially sialang trees. The community hopes for regulations both in the village and regional stakeholders or even the concession holders (private sector) to maintain the sustainability of the bees for the economic welfare of the community and sustainable environmental preservation.