Ecological carrying capacity of Cidahu Nature Tourism Object, Gunung Halimun Salak National Park KOKO KOMARUDIN 1,2,* , ROSADI 2 , SATA YOSHIDA SRIE RAHAYU 2 1 Gunung Halimun Salak National Park Agency, Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republik of Indonesia, Jln. Cipanas, Kecamatan Kabandungan, Kabupaten Sukabumi 43368, Indonesia 2 Environment Management Study Programme, Graduate School, Pakuan University, Jln. Pakuan Kotak Pos 452, Bogor 16129, Indonesia Corresponding author: kokoalashalimun@yahoo.co.id Submitted 16 October 2021; Accepted 10 March 2022 ABSTRACT The nature tourism sector plays an important role in national economic growth. Cidahu Nature Tourism Object, Gunung Halimun Salak National Park (GHSNP) is one of the natural attractions that has provided many benefits for the government, especially in supporting local community's economy. Natural tourism activities in Cidahu, which have been tended for mass tourism, can both benefit the economy and have a negative impact on conservation areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the tourism carrying capacity in Cidahu Nature Tourism Object by examining the maximum number of tourists that can be accommodated so that the physical, environmental and management aspects are not damaged ecologically and tourism actors may still receive satisfaction from the activities. Through a descriptive research method, data processing techniques using the Cifuentes method was used to calculate the physical carrying capacity (PCC), real carrying capacity (RCC) and effective carrying capacity (ECC). Based on the results of the study, the physical carrying capacity value was 10,593, the real carrying capacity was 148 and the effective carrying capacity was 133. With the PCC value > RCC > ECC, the tourism carrying capacity in Cidahu Natural Tourism Object is still in good condition. ABSTRAK Sektor pariwisata alam memegang peranan penting dalam pertumbuhan ekonomi nasional. Obyek Wisata Alam Cidahu, Taman Nasional Gunung Halimun Salak (TNGHS) merupakan salah satu obyek wisata alam yang telah memberikan banyak manfaat bagi pemerintah khususnya dalam menunjang perekonomian masyarakat setempat. Kegiatan wisata alam di Cidahu yang selama ini cenderung bersifat mass tourism dapat memberikan manfaat ekonomi dan juga berdampak negatif bagi kawasan konservasi. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui daya dukung pariwisata di Obyek Wisata Alam Cidahu dengan mengkaji jumlah maksimal wisatawan yang dapat ditampung sehingga aspek fisik, lingkungan dan pengelolaan tidak rusak secara ekologis dan pelaku pariwisata tetap dapat memperoleh kepuasan dari kegiatan. Melalui metode penelitian deskriptif, teknik pengolahan data menggunakan metode Cifuentes, digunakan untuk menghitung daya dukung fisik (PCC), daya dukung nyata (RCC) dan daya dukung efektif (ECC). Berdasarkan hasil kajian nilai daya dukung fisik sebesar 10.593, daya dukung riil sebesar 148 dan daya dukung efektif sebesar 133. Dengan nilai PCC > RCC > ECC maka daya dukung wisata di Obyek Wisata Alam Cidahu masih dalam kondisi baik. Keywords: carrying capacity, Cidahu, ecological, national park, nature tourism, Sukabumi INTRODUCTION Nature tourism is a type of tourism activity that utilizes the potential of natural resources and environmental management (Suwantoro, 2004). Nowadays, tourism activities in conservation areas tend to increase alongside an increasing awareness about nature conservation (Pickering & Hill, 2007). Conservation areas are expected to contribute to economic development and reduce poverty. As an attraction for tourists and managers, conservation area-based tourism activities can both be a challenge and a significant opportunity. A lack of proper planning and management will contribute to significant negative impacts on the ecosystem environment in the area and its surroundings, and also on the lives of its people (Sheppard, 2006). In general, there are two types of nature tourism activities in conservation areas: (1) a small scale or special interest (ecotourism) activity that may only have a small impact on the ecosystem, and (2) a large scale/mass tourism activity that involves many components and will have a large impact on the ecosystem (McCool & Moisey, 2008). The trend of ecotourism internationally is indeed increasing, but economically, mass tourism with a large and continuous number of tourists is seen as more profitable than ecotourism with a small and uncertain number of tourists (Fandeli & Nurdin, 2005). Gunung Halimun Salak National Park (GHSNP) has been used for nature tourism activities. The GHSNP area is located within three local government administrative areas, namely Sukabumi Regency, Bogor Regency and Lebak Regency. In the Sukabumi Regency, InJAST Volume 3, Number 1, April 2022 Pages: 53-60 P - ISSN: 2722 - 0133 E - ISSN: 2722 - 0141 DOI: 10.33751/injast.v3i1.4068 53 Indonesian Journal of Applied Environmental Studies 3 (1): 53-60, April 2022