LARANGAN SEBAGAI MEDIA PELESTARIAN HUTAN PADA KOMUNITAS ADAT CIKONDANG

This research is conducted because of the frequent forest destruction occurrence, meanwhile, the forests in the  Cikondang Indigenous Community area are still well-preserved to date. This study aims to obtain an overview  of the sacred grove located in Cikondang, the reason why the forest is designated as a sacred grove, and the factors that cause the forest to be well-preserved. This research is a descriptive one by exercising the qualitative  method. The qualitative method is used to analyze objects that cannot be measured using numbers. The research  methods were conducted by literature studies, observations, and interviews. Informants, both key and additional, were interviewed with reference to interview guidelines. The research stage is initiated by extracting the data in the field, classifying and analyzing the data, and finally drawing a conclusion. The results indicated that the forests in Cikondang physically have similarities with forests in general. Historical events and awareness of the benefits of the forest designated the forest as a sacred grove whose preservation has been well-maintained due to the enactment of a number of forbiddance or pamali related to the existence of the forest. Forbiddance or pamali is a customary  rule that is obeyed because of fear of violating the forbiddance or pamali. It has the "power" to prevent people from causing forest destruction. Forbiddance or pamali can be a means to preserve the forest.