ASIAN JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY Volume 1, Number 2, November 2018 E-ISSN: 2580-4510 Pages: 61-68 DOI: 10.13057/asianjethnobiol/y010202 The traditional Rimbo Larangan system of forest management: An ethnoecological case study in Nagari Paru, Sijujung District, West Sumatra, Indonesia YUKI ALANDRA 1 . FATIYA ULFA DWI AMELIA 1 , JOHAN ISKANDAR 2,3, 1 Postgraduate of Environmental Study (PSMIL & DIL), Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl. Sekeloa Selatan I Bandung 40134, West Java, Indonesia 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl. Raya Bandung-Sumedang Km 21, Jatinangor, Sumedang 45363, West Java, Indonesia.  email: johan.iskandar@unpad.ac.id 3 Institute of Ecology (PPSDAL), Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl. Sekeloa Selatan I Bandung 40134, West Java, Indonesia Manuscript received: 11 April 2018. Revision accepted: 1 October 2018. Abstract. Alandra Y. Amelia FUD, Iskandar J. 2018. The traditional Rimbo Larangan system of forest management: An ethnoecological case study in Nagari Paru, Sijujung District, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Asian J Ethnobiol 1: 61-68. The community of Nagari Paru, Sijunjung District, West Sumatra Province, Indonesia has a traditional forest conservation system locally known as Rimbo Larangan which is based on the Local Knowledge (LK) or the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) - strongly embedded in the local culture.. Although the Rimbo Larangan has nearly disappeared in many villages (nagari) of West Sumatra, particularly of the Minangkabau ethnic, this traditional forest conservation system in Nagari Paru has been properly maintained. The aim of this study was to document the ecological history, the characteristics of the involved local institutions and the management system of the Rimbo Larangan based on a case study in Nagari Paru, Sijunjung district, West Sumatra Province. Method used in this study was qualitative with the ethnoecological approach. The results of the study showed that the ecological story of Rimbo Larangan has been established since a long time, in parallel with initial construction of agricultural and settlement areas in the forest. The institution of Rimbo Larangan, as a distinctive model, was initially organized by the original initiatives of informal leaders which were later joined and supported by the local government. Based on the Rimbo Larangan system, various non-timber forest products of Nagari Paru has been sustainably utilized by the local community. In addition, the forest has provided ecological services over time for the local community. Keywords: Ethnoecology, Minangkabau, Rimbo Larangan, Traditional forest management, West Sumatra INTRODUCTION During the last decades, various aspects of ethnoecology have received scientific attention by different scholars (Iskandar 2004; Jumari et al. 2012; Iskandar and Iskandar 2016). The term ethnoecology may generally be defined as scientific evaluation of local knowledge of people on ecological aspects (Cotton 1996; Iskandar 2012; Iskandar 2004). One of the ethnoecological aspects that has been predominantly studied is the local knowledge (LK) or traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) related to local practices, values, and cosmos or beliefs developed by individuals or communities regarding management of natural resources and environment (Berkes et al. 2000; Toledo 2002). It can be said said that the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and beliefs, cosmos or worldview can be considered as important factors in the relationship between social system and ecosystem (Rambo 1983; Toledo 2002). Therefore, the management of natural resources in certain areas will not succeed without the active participation of the local community. It has been widely known that the local people play an active and important role in natural resource management, particularly in management of the village forests (Shrestha and McManus 2006). The local community of village (nagari) of Paru, Sijunjung District, West Sumatra, have deep traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and sustainable practices of village forest management that is inherited from their ancestors. This traditional forest conservation is locally named as Rimbo Larangan and this system has been properly maintained till today. Various factors such as population increase, intensive market economy penetration, and development of technology have predominantly influenced the Rimbo Larangan in the West Sumatra Province (cf. Iskandar 2001; Ritchie et al. 2001; Golar 2007; Parrotta et al. 2009). The traditional law mentioned in the local regulation (Perda) of Nagari Paru No.1of year 2002, has imposed some prohibitions, such as prohibition on cutting of trees and hunting of animals based on communal agreement of the community. The local community of Nagari Paru has been allowed to harvest only non-timber forest products (Hasil Hutan Bukan Kayu/HHBK). Principally, the aim of the local management of Rimbo Larangan is maintaining both quality and quantity of water resources in the forest to fulfill daily human needs and agricultural purposes of the local community, due to the fact that livelihood of Nagari Paru is dominated by farmers, who are particularly engaged in the wet-rice (sawah) farming system. By the application of the Rimbo Larangan system, the community of Nagari Paru has successfully maintained the