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Increasing population growth in coastal areas, resulting in increasing demand for land for settlements, plantations, aquaculture, and other uses. This causes a lot of mangrove land being damaged. This research aims to know the people's perceptions of the function and role of mangrove forests and the management of sustainable mangrove forest ecosystems. The location of sample data collection is in Pantai Bahagia Village, Muara Gembong District, West Java. The sampling technique used to assess community perceptions is a selected technique (purposive sampling) with 30 respondents. Community perception of the function and role of mangrove forests in Muara Gembong is in the high category. The community has experienced the negative impacts of mangrove forest degradation, such as tidal floods, fishpond damage, and sea water intrusion, so that the community is aware of the importance of the function and role of mangrove forests for the survival of the community in the future. Community perception of mangrove forest ecosystem management in Muara Gembong is in the high category. All losses experienced by the community, whether in the form of fishpond damage, road access, to residential houses, foster public awareness of the importance of sustainable management of mangrove forest ecosystems.Key words: Perception; Forest Management; Mangrove; Muara Gembon

Agroforestry is a land management system long practiced by communities in the Moluccas. The practice is commonly known as "Dusung", where one cash crop in particular, nutmeg, is interspersed throughout farmer groves. Farmers have faced a number of challenges in recent years, especially concerning a system of debt bondage inflicting undue losses upon them. This study aims to explain the involvement of farmers within the debt bondage system, otherwise known as the tree mortgage system. We utilize a case study methodology, whereby data were collected through interviews and participant observation and results analyzed using principal agent theory. Findings highlight that nutmeg farmers, what we call the Principal, incur high risks when debt bondage is applied by an Agent that has the increasing ability to deny and change the terms of an agreement. This occurs when Agents exploit information unavailable to farmers about nutmeg marketing prospects, which weakens farmer negotiating positions. Improving institutional support for contracts in the tree mortgage system could help to ensure a more equitable arrangement, improving the terms for nutmeg farmers, meanwhile also encouraging the continued preservation of the dusung system, which has long helped to manage forest resources sustainably.

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Mangrove forest ecosystems have a very important role for humans and the environment, so to prevent further damage needs to be done identification of tree species composition and structure of mangrove forest stands. For the purpose of this research is to know the composition of tree species from the level of seedling to the tree and to know the structure of its stand. Data collection methods used are Inventory of mangrove species using Indonesian mangrove determination keychain and data analysis by calculating important value index, Diversity index, relative frequency and horizontal structure analysis. The results showed that the largest tree density structure was Rhizophora mucronata of 225 trees / hectare, Avicennia marinna of 145 trees / hectare, Sonneratia alba of 65 trees / hectare and Avicennia officinalis of 65 trees / hectare and had only one crown layer namely strata A which is dominated by Rhizophora mucronata tree which has an average free height of 9 m branch with total height 12 m and diameter 29 cm. For this reason, planting efforts need to be increased to increase the number and composition for coastal protection.