<![CDATA[Mangrove forests are natural forests that grow and develop on sloping areas at the mouth of rivers and coasts that are affected by the tides of the sea. The purpose of the study describe the perception of the people of Sejahtera Village towards the mangrove ecosystem of Sukadana District of North Kayong Regency and analyze the factors that affect the perception of the people of Sejahtera Village towards the existence of Mangrove Forest in Sukadana District of North Kayong Regency. The study used survey methods with interview techniques of 87 respondents with questionnaire guidance, and observation techniques were conducted in three hamlets namely Belit River, Melinsum, and Tanjung Gunung. The results of descriptive analysis showed that 87 respondents showed that the level of perception of prosperous villages towards the existence of mangrove forests as a whole was at a positive level of understanding with 42 respondents (48%) indicating that the perception of prosperous village communities was positive about the existence of mangrove forests in their area, 30 respondents (34%) had a neutral perception, and 15 respondents (17%) had a negative perception. There is an insignificant relationship between the level of knowledge and people's perception of the existence of mangrove forests, so the relationship between knowledge level and perception is weak. There is a significant relationship between income level factors and people's perception of the existence of mangrove forests shows a strong relationship. There is a significant relationship between the level of dependence and people's perception of the existence of mangrove forests and shows a strong relationship of solidity.Keywords: Community, Mangrove Forest, Perception.AbstrakHutan mangrove merupakan hutan alam yang tumbuh dan berkembang pada daerah landai di muara sungai dan pesisir pantai yang dipengaruhi oleh pasang surut air laut. Tujuan penelitian mendeskripsikan persepsi masyarakat terhadap ekosistem mangrove di Desa Sejahtera Kecamatan Sukadana Kabupaten Kayong Utara dan menganalisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi persepsi masyarakat Desa Sejahtera terhadap keberadaan hutan mangrove di Kecamatan Sukadana Kabupaten Kayong Utara. Penelitian menggunakan metode survei dengan teknik wawancara terhadap 87 responden dengan panduan kuesioner, dan teknik observasi dilakukan di tiga dusun yaitu Sungai Belit, Melinsum, dan Tanjung Gunung. Hasil analisis deskriptif menunjukkan bahwa 87 responden menunjukkan bahwa tingkat persepsi masyarakat Desa Sejahtera terhadap keberadaan hutan mangrove secara keseluruhan berada pada tingkat pemahaman positif dengan 42 responden (48%) menunjukkan bahwa persepsi masyarakat Desa Sejahtera positif terhadap keberadaan hutan mangrove yang ada di daerah mereka, 30 responden (34%) memiliki persepsi netral, dan 15 responden (17%) memiliki persepsi negatif. Terdapat hubungan tidak signifikan antara tingkat pengetahuan dengan persepsi masyarakat terhadap keberadaan hutan mangrove maka hubungan keeratan antara tingkat pengetahuan dengan persepsi adalah lemah. Terdapat hubungan signifikan antara faktor tingkat pendapatan dengan persepsi masyarakat terhadap keberadaan hutan mangrove menunjukan hubungan keeratan kuat. Terdapat hubungan signifikan antara tingkat ketergantungan dengan persepsi masyarakat terhadap keberadaan hutan mangrove dan menunjukan hubungan keeratan kuat.Kata kunci: Masyarakat, Hutan Mangrove, Persepsi.]]>
