POTENTIAL USE OF PT PERKEBUNAN NUSANTARA VIII KERTAMANAH TEA PLANTATION FOR NATURE-BASED THERAPY

• Main Author: Nisa Alfaini, Khoirun
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/69014
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Prolonged stress can harm mental and physical health. Many studies on the use of forests in nature-based therapies have shown positive results in stress management, as indicated by improvements in human physiological, psychological, and cognitive functions. However, it is not yet known whether plantation ecosystems, especially tea plantations, have the potential to be used as an alternative in nature-based therapies (NBT). Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the potential utilization of tea plantations at PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII (PTPN VIII) Kertamanah, Pangalengan, West Java, as a nature-based therapy area. To understand this potential, the research was also carried out in a suburban area as a control, namely Lapangan Bola Batununggal (LBB), which is located in Bandung, West Java. The results obtained there were then compared with PTPN VIII’s results. In this study, the potency of tea plantation area for NBT was determined based on the environment’s physical characteristics as well as participants' perceived comfort and physiological responses. Aerial imagery analysis and measurement of environmental parameters were done in order to obtain land slope class, vegetation density class, microclimate conditions, and noise level in PTPN VIII. Microclimate and noise level measurements were also carried out in LBB. Participants in this study were divided into two groups based on their relaxation activity at each location, namely the Strolling Group (N = 4), and the Landscape Viewing Group (N = 4). The collection of participants’ responses was conducted in two sessions at each location (4 sessions in total), with one week between sessions. Perceived comfort scores and body condition data (pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure) was collected at the beginning and end of each session. The results of aerial imagery analysis show that the majority of the study area in PTPN VIII has a slope of <15%, which is considered comfortable, and has sparse vegetation. PTPN VIII's microclimate was slightly drier than LBB, with a lower average noise level. The average perceived comfort score at PTPN VIII is slightly higher than LBB, but there is no significant difference. The best physiological conditions changes occurred in PTPN VIII in the Landscape Viewing Group. Further statistical analysis showed that the data obtained were not sufficient to prove a significant difference in changes in physiological conditions between locations.