Abstract. Afifah RN, Putri A, Hartanti AN, Negari SIT, Pratama MSR, Zuaini PAK, Al Madani AR, Muryanto BS, Muhammad F, Astikasari L, Indriyani S, Kurniawati I, Sunarto, Kusumaningrum L, Budiharta S, Flores AB, Setyawan AD. 2023. Ecotourism development as a community-based conservation effort in Ayah Mangrove Forest, Kebumen, Central Java, Indonesia. Asian J For 7: 37-44. The mangrove ecosystem is a transition ecosystem between terrestrial and marine zones affected by tidal waves, water inundation, and high saline water and soil. Mangrove forest plays an important role in physical, ecological and socio-economic aspects. One potential function of mangrove forests from the socio-economic aspect is ecotourism. Ayah Mangrove Forest in Ayah Village, Kebumen District, Central Java Province, Indonesia, has the potential to be developed as a mangrove-based ecotourism area that combines the objective of income generation and mangrove conservation. This research was conducted to examine the conservation and ecotourism efforts by the people of Ayah Village and to assess the local community's perception of the development of mangrove-based ecotourism. The research was conducted in November 2022. Primary data were collected using field observation and interviews with 100 respondents aged 17-60 years using the snowball sampling method, while secondary data were collected using a literature review. The results showed that efforts to protect the Ayah Mangrove Forest area included establishing zones for protection, rehabilitation, and utilization of the mangrove forest. There are also mangrove rehabilitation efforts that involve the community in the form of the establishment of nurseries, mangrove planting, and maintenance of planted seedlings. The local community also carry out garbage cleaning program and public outreach. Besides the conservation aspect, Ayah Mangrove Forest is also utilized for ecotourism objects that generate income for the local community by selling tickets, boats, foods, beverages and souvenirs, tour guides, and parking attendants. Most of the local community has good perceptions and agreed on the development of Ayah Mangrove Forest as an ecotourism area. They are willing to be involved in ecotourism planning and development activities. The community agreed to participate in tour guide activities, selling souvenirs, providing homestays, and participating in ecotourism counseling. Most of the local community has also agreed to form a mangrove conservation community to maintain the sustainability of mangrove forest ecotourism. Nonetheless, support from the government is required, especially in the promotion and rehabilitation programs in the ecotourism development of Ayah Mangrove Forest.

This research was aimed at finding out the teaching techniques used in teaching reading comprehension by English teachers from four Madrasah Aliyah at Pasangkayu Regency. MAN Pasangkayu, MA DDI Pasangkayu, MA DDI Kasoloang and MA DDI Darul Ulum. This research applied mix method approach. The respondents of this research were 8 English teachers. The instrument for collecting the data was a questionnaire and interview. Quantitative data were collected and analyzed in the first phase of the research and qualitative data were collected in the second phase. The results reveal that the English teachers use several techniques in teaching reading comprehension such as Scanning Technique, Skimming Technique, SQ3R, Speed Reading, Detailed Reading Strategy, and Collaborative Strategic Reading. The result of the interview showed that the teachers tended to use the Scanning-Skimming technique and SQ3R compared to other techniques. According to them, the Scanning-Skimming technique were two techniques that were very effective for students to use when they did English exams, especially reading texts, they find it easier to get information from a reading text. Meanwhile, SQ3R is a technique that is very good for the benefit of reading intensively. The teachers at Madrasah Aliyah Pasangkayu Regency to upgrade in teaching reading are only some of them who have attended seminars/webinars or training from related agencies or schools. As for their efforts in improving their reading teaching skills, only a few of them were creative to learn independently to find references, hold study groups, review journals, and download videos about teaching reading techniques. Every teacher needs to be more creative for the learning process can be successful.