Abstract. Haryoso A, Zuhud EAM, Hikmat A, Sunkar A, Darusman D. 2020. Ethnobotany of sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) in the Sasak Community, Kekait Village, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 117-128. Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata Merr.) is one kind of palm that has high potential ecological, economic, and socio-cultural values. This Research aimed to identify the ethnobotanical aspects of sugar palm, especially on aspects related to farmers characteristics, cultivation, utilization, cooking process of palm sugar sap and sugar palm marketing at the Kekait Village, West Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara Province. Data were collected using participatory observation, in-depth interviews, literature studies, and the selection of informants conducted by purposive sampling. Sugar palm farmers were adult men aged between 42 to 63 years old. They achieved life skills provision from parents to their children. The characteristics of sugar palm farmers in the Sasak community are adult men to the elderly, aged 24-63 years. The source of knowledge about the use of sugar palm is hereditary from parents (father or grandfather). Oil palm farmers in the Sasak community in Kekait Village do not carry out intensive cultivation systems, they still rely on natural services, both regeneration and distribution. The most widely used part of the palm tree is tassel (76.32%), to be tapped. Processing palm sugar into sugar is still carried out with traditional methods and tools, as well as natural ingredients. Sugar palm farmers in Kekait Village were very dependent on small collectors who sell their sugar products. Farmers are in the weakest position in the marketing chains and did not have a bargaining position to determine the price of palm sugar.

Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) is one kind of palm that has multiple benefits on the Sasak community of Kekait Merr.Village. Despite its benefit, the information of sugar palm is barely unknown since the farmers depend on the nature cultivation The Research aimed to analyze ecological aspects: composition, structure, the vegetation distribution, . which includes the rate of regeneration and spatial distribution of sugar palm in the Sasak community garden in Kekait Village, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province. The methods employed in the research is a single plot method with randomly selected. Obtained data are being analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The research successfully identified 68 species of 30 families plant. The majority of species are Meliaceae and Anacardiaceae families. The highest IVI from seedlings, saplings, poles, and trees are A. pinnata (52.09%), T. cacao (22.72%), G. gnemon (91.49%), D. zibethinus (80.19%). The vegetation structures showed a well-developed structure. The vegetation distribution in the farmers' garden indicated a clustered pattern within three strata; B, C, and D strata. The regeneration level of A. pinnata categorized as fair sustainable with a clustered distribution pattern. The pattern is affected by the reproduction and distribution of A. pinnata seeds which carried out by Rinjani weasel (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus rinjanicus).

Indonesian sugar palm farmers progress up to date indicates less encouraging condition. In the last decade, sugar palm farmers faced thorough, complex problems from top to bottom. These complex problems could not be solved by the sugar palm farmers alone. It requires stakeholders’ role to work together to solve them. This study aims to assess which stakeholders and how their role plays in the sustainable utilization of sugar palm. The study successfully identified 15 stakeholders interested in sugar palm utilization. Sugar palm farmers had high interest in the effort to develop sustainable sugar palm utilization. The interest of sugar palm farmers in Kekait Village was generally affected by strong bond against the local culture which was still being practiced. The Department of Agriculture of West Lombok Regency had a level of influence by 16 points. The high level of influence was determined by the authority of the juridical attached to the Department of Agriculture. The authority covered coaching, mentoring, supervision and provision of assistance. The results of actors-linkage matrix analysis indicated that the level of relationship among stakeholders showed the potential for conflict, cooperation, and mutual help was low.   Key words: cooperation, collaboration, Lombok Island, sustainability