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5 February 2026

Ecological, Economic, and Social Sustainability of the Puspa and Cardamom Agroforestry System in Gunung Walat Educational Forest (HPGW), Indonesia

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1
Department of Forest Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, Academic Ring Road Campus IPB Dramaga, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia
2
Center for Regional System Analysis, Planning and Development (CrestPent), IPB University, Bogor 16680, West Java, Indonesia
3
Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN), Jl. Raya Bogor No. 970, Cibinong, Bogor 16911, West Java, Indonesia
4
Forestry Technology Research Group, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No. 10, Bandung 40132, West Java, Indonesia
Forests2026, 17(2), 220;https://doi.org/10.3390/f17020220 
(registering DOI)
This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management: Silvicultural Practices and Management Strategies

Abstract

This study aims to assess the sustainability of an agroforestry system integrating Schima wallichii (puspa) and Amomum cardamomum (cardamom) within the Gunung Walat Educational Forest—IPB University Educational Forest (HPGW), Indonesia, by applying the RAP-AFS (Rapid Appraisal Technique for Evaluating Agroforestry Sustainability) approach. The assessment was conducted across four key dimensions: ecological, economic, social, and institutional. The findings suggest that the overall sustainability of the agroforestry system in HPGW is moderately good, with a sustainability index value of 55.94. The social and ecological dimensions performed particularly well, scoring 67.51 and 61.43, respectively. The economic dimension achieved an index score of 55.45, although price fluctuations and reliance on middlemen continue to pose challenges. Meanwhile, the institutional dimension showed the lowest performance, with an index value of 39.37, underscoring the need to enhance institutional support, capacity building, and extension services to strengthen sustainability. In light of these findings, it is recommended to prioritize strengthening institutional frameworks, stabilizing market prices, and expanding soil conservation practices, alongside promoting greater social participation, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the agroforestry system in this region.

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