Abstract
This paper describes the characteristics of private forest management applied by farmers in dry land of the rural Java. The agroforestry system was used to manage their forest to manifest many objectives and constraints. The farmers practiced many types of agroforestry system, which depend on their own habit and needs. By a long experience, farmers cultivated their own small land with a high value of plant species combination. Farmers were able to manage their private forest on sustainable manner by applying selective cutting system. Even though, private forest has not contributed a big portion to the total household income, but it was important as saving asset, especially when cash money urged during emergency situation. Financial analysis proved that agroforestry-based private forest in Java is prospective for an investment in farming business. PF system is a promising system to be promoted for forest resources improvement in Java. It could be accelerated by intro-ducing appropriate policy and programs with farmers' characteristics on managing PF in rural area of Java.
