Ethnoecology Majegan (Tegalan) Local Communities on the Slopes of Mount Slamet, Paguyangan District, Brebes Regency, Central Java

Abstract

Indonesian communities have variety of local knowledge in managing natural resource that are formed form heredity. The threat of modernization that is not approporite with local culture causes degradation of local knowledge, including the Jawa ethnic community on the slopes of Mount Slamet. The purpose of this study is to document the local knowledge of the slopes Mount Slamet Community in utilizing majegan (tegalan or kebon) unit landscape. The study was carried out in 3 villages namely, Ragatunjung, Cipetung and Pandansari, Paguyangan District. The method used is a semi-structured interview, observation and literature study. The number of key informants in this study is 8 people and respondents were 30 people. The result showed that the community of slopes of Mount Slamet recognize and utilize majegan (tegalan or kebon) as dry land that used to grow annual vegetable crops and perennial plant that are located separately from the house yard and its use is not moving. Majegan (tegalan or kebon) managed by tumpangsari (intercropped) and only relies on rains water. Some type of trees found around majegan (tegalan or kebon), is jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), waru (Hibiscus tiliaceus) etc. and annual vegetable crops found include, kol (Brassica juncea), budin (Manihot esculenta), cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum), corn (Zea mays), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) etc.