<![CDATA[The mountain communities of Seram Island, Maluku, are highly dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods. Their daily activities often intersect with protected forest areas, frequently without awareness of the forest’s official conservation status. However, the sustainability of protected forest functions is closely influenced by the community’s interactions and practices. This study aims to analyze the interaction between the mountain community in Rumahtita Hamlet and the protected forest, as well as the challenges that affect ecosystem sustainability. A qualitative approach was applied, employing interviews and field observations to examine socio-cultural and economic dimensions, while vegetation analysis was used to assess ecosystem capacity through the biophysical dimension and its cultural implications. The findings reveal that the Rumahtita community maintains a strong attachment to the protected forest, with the majority (80.95%) perceiving its function primarily as a provider of daily necessities. Agathis dammara emerged as the dominant species (INP = 97.66%) within the protected forest area, symbolizing the ecological and cultural connection between the mountain community and their forest environment. The challenges faced in forest management include limited accessibility, low work ethic and creativity among the productive-age workforce, insufficient knowledge regarding product diversification, weak roles of village-owned enterprises (BUMDes), and limited market access.]]>
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