Pemanfaaatan Hasil Hutan Bukan Kayu (HHBK) berupa aren dinilai belum cukup optimal karena rendahnya produktivitas gula aren yang dihasilkan. Penelitian bertujuan menganalisis kesesuaian lahan budidaya tanaman aren, mengukur produktivitas tanaman aren, kontribusi terhadap pendapatan petani serta evaluasi aturan kelembagaan petani aren di Desa Baru Ranji, Kecamatan Merbau Mataram, Kabupaten Lampung Selatan. Pendekatan yang digunakan berupa kuantitatif dengan metode mixed-methods. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan tingkat kesesuaian lahan Sangat Sesuai (S1) sebesar 88,54% lahan untuk budidaya tanaman aren. Produktivitas tanaman cukup rendah sebesar 162,6 kg/ha/tahun, sehingga rata-rata kontribusi pendapatan petani aren sebesar 21% dari rata-rata pendapatan total sebesar Rp. 18.054.778/petani/tahun dan dikategorikan tidak sejahtera. Aturan kelembagaan berupa aturan konstitusional dalam agroforestri untuk pengelolaan gula aren belum disebutkan secara spesifik walaupun telah terwujud co-management hutan kemsyarakatan. Budidaya tanaman aren secara agroforestri diusung dalam peningkatan produktivitas dan perlu adanya aturan kelembagaan yang mendukung mewujudkan konsep keberlanjutan dalam agroforestri-industri gula aren berbasis hutan kemasyarakatan.

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The utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) in sugar palm is considered not optimal enough due to the low productivity of the palm sugar produced. The study aimed to analyze land suitability for sugar palm cultivation, measure the productivity of palm plants, analyze contribution to palm farmers' income and evaluate institutional rules for sugar palm farmers in Baru Ranji Village, Merbau Mataram District, South Lampung Regency. The approach used is quantitative with mixed methods. The results showed that the land suitability level was Very Suitable (S1) of 88.54% for sugar palm cultivation. Plant productivity is quite low at 162.6 kg/ha/year, so the average contribution of farmers' income is 21% of the total income of Rp. 18,054,778/farmer/year and classified as not prosperous. Institutional rules in the form of constitutional rules in agroforestry for managing palm sugar have not been specifically stated, even though community forest co-management has been realized. Cultivation of palm plants filed in agroforestry increases productivity and the need for institutional rules that enable the realization of the concept of sustainability in agroforestry - a community forest-based palm sugar industry.