Perception of Forest Farmer Groups as a Mediating Variable in Achieving Goals as Members of the Forestry Partnership

Perception is an essential factor influencing attitudes and behavior toward the forestry partnership program. Apart from that, a person’s perception can positively or negatively impact the program. The forestry partnerships program is a policy that is the basis of a community empowerment program that provides legal access for local communities to meet the needs of non-timber forest products originating from the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) area. The research was conducted to identify the role of partnership members’ perceptions as a mediating variable in achieving goals and obtaining benefits as partnership members in the Semaka Region I National Park Management Sector, BBSNP. Data was collected using a questionnaire, and hypothesis testing was performed using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Model statistical analysis using SmartPLS 4.0 software. The results showed that perception does not play a mediating variable in achieving goals and obtaining benefits as a member of the partnership. The community benefits from the forestry partnership program if they become members even without having a positive perception of the program. Thus, it is possible that they will not commit properly because the important thing is that they have become members because it will be secure and no longer be considered as an encroachment. This means that it is legal access that makes people want to become members of the partnership. So, to increase positive perceptions and ensure the program’s goal is achieved, namely preserving forests and ensuring the fulfillment of people’s lives, it is necessary to increase the intensity of activities that influence people’s perceptions, for example, socialization, mentoring, and coaching. Keywords: forestry partnership, PLS-SEM, social capital, social forestry