Model of Community Empowerment of Springs Preservation in Arjuna Mountains

The research objectives were (1) to examine the determinants of community empowerment towards the revegetation of Arjuna mount forests; (2) assessing the influence of geography and soil conditions on the revegetation of Arjuna mount forests; (3) reviewing the effect of Arjuna mount forest revegetation on the preservation of spring water sources and (4) formulating a model for empowering communities around the forest towards sustainable conservation of springs. The research method was descriptive quantitative, with research populations around the forest and springs, namely Leduk, Jatiarjo and Dayurejo Village, Prigen District, Pasuruan Regency, East Java. The research sample was determined by cluster sampling and data analysis using SEM (structural equation modeling). The results showed that (1) the variable of community empowerment with factors human resources, economic, social, local institutions, facilities and infrastructure have a very significant effect on revegetation of Gunung Arjuna forest; (2) geographic and soil variables have a very significant effect on forest revegetation; (3) forest revegetation variables have a very significant effect on the preservation of spring resources; and (4) the local institutional factors, facilities and infrastructure have a higher influence than other factors. The institutional and facilities and infrastructure factors of the forest community can be a model of empowering the community around the forest towards the success of revegetation and preservation of the area around the source of the spring, and was the novelty of this dissertation research.