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Communal forests in Indonesia, especially in the form of agroforestry commonly undeveloped and almost in traditional management. In Koto Malintang, West Sumatra agroforestry practice known as ‘parak’has existed since decades ago. This study aims to determine the importance of tree tenure security in the ‘parak’management for its sustainability in Koto Malintang, West Sumatra. The research uses descriptive method to identify the tree tenure security. To assess and describe patterns of tree control on communal land which refers to the Rapid appraisal of social forestry for land and tree tenure. The findings indicate lack of tree tenure security, especially for the purpose of selling the trees. Communal rights limit the freedom of timber use in an uncontrolled manner. But the communal rights maintain the system sustainability that is practiced as local institutional rules. For the income purposes, farmers tend to avoid planting timber-producing trees and prioritizing to quickly produce an annual crop. This is due to the limited of tenure security encourages reluctance of trees planting. Planting more trees is caused by timber interests. Planting trees is caused by the communal interest to the trees benefit for environmental sustainability.