KESAN AMALAN SISTEM PERTANIAN TRADISIONAL DAN PERANAN ORANG ASAL DALAM MENGURANGKAN DEGRADASI HUTAN: KAJIAN DI HUTAN SIMPAN GANA-LINGKABAU, KOTA MARUDU, SABAH

Degradasi hutan seringkali dikaitkan dengan Orang Asal terutamanya yang tinggal di pinggir atau di dalam hutan simpan, apabila sistem pertanian tradisional yang mereka warisi daripada turun-menurun menggunakan kaedah yang kurang efektif dan memberi kesan negatif kepada sumber hutan. Oleh yang sedemikian, kefahaman tentang peranan Orang Asal dalam membantu dan mengurangkan kesan degradasi hutan adalah sangat penting. Secara khususnya, kajian ini telah dijalankan untuk: (1) mengkaji jenis sistem pertanian tradisional yang diamalkan oleh Orang Asal di Hutan Simpan Gana-Lingkabau, dan (2) mengenalpasti peranan Orang Asal dalam mengurangkan degradasi hutan. Sebanyak 10 buah kampung telah terlibat dalam kajian ini, di mana kampung-kampung ini telah ditempatkan semula di luar kawasan Hutan Simpan Gana-Lingkabau, Kota Marudu, Sabah. Kaedah trangulasi termasuk pendekatan temubual secara bersemuka, survei menggunakan borang soal selidik dan pemerhatian lapangan telah dilakukan. Hasil daripada kajian ini mendapati bahawa majoriti isi rumah yang tinggal di kawasan ini terlibat dalam sistem pertanian tradisional, sebahagian besarnya penanaman jenis tanaman selingan, perhutani (perhutanan-tani), dan tanaman di sekitar kawasan rumah. Kajian ini juga mendedahkan bahawa kebanyakan isi rumah menyatakan mereka memainkan peranan yang penting dalam penanaman perhutani, mengurangkan kebakaran hutan, dan pertanian pindah serta terlibat dalam penanaman giliran dan tanaman selingan. Oleh yang sedemikian, berdasarkan kepada hasil dapatan daripada kajian ini, ia boleh disimpulkan bahawa peranan dan penglibatan Orang Asal dalam sistem pertanian tradisional yang digabungkan dengan pengurusan perhutanan, dapat membantu mengurangkan kesan degradasi hutan, disamping itu dapat meningkatkan peranan mereka dalam bersama-sama menguruskan sumber hutan. Forest degradation is frequently associated with indigenous peoples, especially those living in the fringe or within the forest reserves, when the traditional farming system they inherited from generations use ineffective methods and negatively affect forest resources. Therefore, understanding the role of indigenous people in helping and mitigating the effects of deforestation is vital. Importantly, this study was undertaken to (1) examine the types of traditional farming systems practised by indigenous people in Gana-Lingkabau Forest Reserve, and (2) identify the role of indigenous peoples in reducing deforestation. Ten villages were involved in this study, which reallocated outside of the Gana-Lingkabau Forest Reserve, Kota Marudu, Sabah. Triangulation methods including face-face interviews, survey using questionnaire and field observations were performed. The findings of the study found that the majority of households residing in this area were involved in traditional farming systems, predominantly integrated farming, agroforestry, and homegarden. The findings also revealed that most households stated that they play a significant role in agroforestry, reducing forest fires, shifting cultivation, and were involved in rotation and integrated farming. Therefore, based on the work conducted in this study, it can be concluded that the role and involvement of indigenous people in the traditional farming system combined with forestry management, can help reduce the effects of deforestation, while enhancing their role in jointly managing forest resources.