Empowering Communities Through Social Forestry: The Role of Cooperatives in Strengthening Coffee Value Chains and Cultural Conservation in Tambaksari Village, Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia

ABSTRACT: Social Forestry is a forest management approach that provides legal access and protection of management rights to communities over forest resources, aiming to enhance economic welfare while maintaining ecological balance. This forest management scheme has been implemented in Tambaksari Village, Pasuruan Regency, by the Koperasi Produsen Lesung Gemilang Sejahtera (Lesung Gemilang Sejahtera Producer Cooperative), an official institution collectively managing a 182-hectare forest area on the slopes of Mount Arjuno. This study examines the role of the cooperative as an institution in supporting the sustainability of the Social Forestry program in Tambaksari Village, Pasuruan Regency, through two key focuses: (1) strengthening community-based coffee commodity value chains and (2) integrating local cultural preservation into forest management schemes. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach with a case study method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation. The findings indicate that the cooperative plays a strategic role in promoting environmentally friendly coffee cultivation practices and expanding market access for coffee commodities. Additionally, the cooperative manages cultural and spiritual sites, such as Goa Onto Boega and Sendang Dewi Kunthi, as part of developing local wisdom-based religious tourism. This approach not only creates alternative economic opportunities but also strengthens the cultural and spiritual identity of the community. Social Forestry is understood not merely as an economic and ecological instrument but also as a space for cultural preservation. These findings affirm that cooperatives can serve as key institutional actors in holistically integrating environmental conservation, economic empowerment, and cultural preservation to achieve community-based sustainable development.