VALUASI EKONOMI PEMANFAATAN LANGSUNG HUTAN MANGROVE OLEH MASYARAKAT DI KELURAHAN LAKOLOGOU, LIABUKU, DAN LOWU- LOWU , KOTA BAUBAU

The spread of mangrove forest in Lakologou, Liabuku, and Lowu-lowu districts, Baubau city is indicated by the degradation of its habitat caused by its conversion into fishpond area, while its availability is decreasing drastically in the natural habitat due to over exploitation by human activity. Hence, it is important to know ecological condition, direct use, and economic valuation of mangrove forest. This research aims to 1). to analyze the condition of mangrove forest in Lakologou, Liabuku, and Lowu-lowu districts, Baubau city 2). to find out the use of mangrove forest by people in Lakologou, Liabuku, and Lowu-lowu districts, Baubau city 3). the evaluate the direct benefits of mangrove forest economically by people in districts of Lakologou , Liabuku, and Lowu-lowu, Baubau city. This research uses descriptive méthode and field sampling technique such as observing mangrove vegetation, data collection, and direct interview with local people in Lakologou, Liabuku, dan Lowu-lowu districts, Baubau city. This research also observes the condition of coastline nearby mangrove vegetation and local economic activity, namely fish farming located around mangrove ecosystem. The result of field measurement in Lakologou, Liabuku dan Lowu-lowu districts with total area of 109,71 ha indicate data from mangrove area in those three districts. There are six kinds of mangrove plants found in those areas, namely: Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal, Sonneratia alba, S. caesiolaris, and Nypa fruticans. Based on the analysis of the result, it shows that the conditions of mangrove forest in those three districts are currently not in good condition. The value of direct benefit in mangrove ecosystem in Lakologou, Liabuku dan Lowu-lowu districts can be seen from the highest income coming from fishing about Rp 20.000.000,-/ha/year. Then, fish farming generate Rp 16.000.000,-/h/year, the selling of firewood with Rp 7.500.000,-/ha/year, crab sales produce Rp 2.880.000,-/ha/year. The lowest income comes from Nypa fruticans leaf sales for making roof which create Rp 46.913.333,-/ha year