DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/jphi.v8i1.69-94

Rethinking Forest Tourism Governance in Indonesia: Ecological Justice, Legal Reform, and the Sustainable Development Goals

*Elizabeth Ayu Puspita Adi orcid  -  Faculty of Law, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia
Bayu Ardhiansyah orcid  -  School of Business and Government, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

Citation Format:
Abstract

Indonesia's forest tourism governance is still plagued by overlapping regulations, fragmented institutional coordination and poor community participation. These issues compromise both ecological sustainability and social justice. This research aims to analyse the weaknesses of the current legal and institutional framework governing forest tourism, and to propose a governance model based on ecological justice that is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study employs a normative legal approach, complemented by socio-legal and historical-legal analyses. Statutory regulations and legal doctrines are examined alongside the historical evolution of forestry law, and governance practices and policy implementation are critically assessed. Three main findings emerged from the results: first, a lack of regulatory coherence across sectoral laws governing forest tourism; second, the marginalisation of ecological justice and participatory governance principles; and third, the predominance of technocratic and market-oriented regulatory instruments that undermine conservation objectives. Although recent legal reforms provide partial reinforcement, they fail to address fundamental governance gaps. It can therefore be concluded that forest tourism governance requires an integrative legal reform model combining ecosystem-based conservation, community-based resource management, and polycentric institutional arrangements, in order to strengthen ecological integrity, institutional accountability, and community inclusion, and to advance SDGs 13, 15, and 16.

Fulltext View|Download Email colleagues
Keywords: Forest Tourism Governance; Ecological Justice; Legal Reform
Funding: LPPM UNS

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Research Articles
Language : EN
  1. Aminah, A., Adhim, N., & Dewi, I. G. A. G. S. (2021). Land use policy of agroforestry: Case study of protected area changes in sekaroh forest, east lombok west nusa tenggara. Environment and Ecology Research,9(5),261–270. https://doi.org/10.13189/eer.2021.090506
  2. Anggriheny, B. R., & Nababan, R. Y. (2021). The Consequence of the Legal Application of Forest Area Defense Principles and Approval Principles. Lambung Mangkurat Law Journal, 6(2), 187–198. https://doi.org/10.32801/lamlaj.v6i2.256
  3. Aprilia, D., Jaelani, A. K., Mulyanto, M., Isharyanto, I., & Kurniawan, I. D. (2025). Regulatory model for tourism villages in forest areas based on sustainable tourism. Legality : Jurnal Ilmiah Hukum, 33(1), 286–306. https://doi.org/10.22219/ljih.v33i1.40177
  4. Ardiyanto, S. Y., Saraswati, R., & Soponyono, E. (2022). Law Enforcement and Community Participation in Combating Illegal Logging and Deforestation in Indonesia. Environment and Ecology Research, 10(4), 450–460. https://doi.org/10.13189/eer.2022.100403
  5. Arnstein, S. R. (2007). Ladder of citizen participation. Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 35(4), 216-224. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944366908977225
  6. Benuf, K., & Azhar, M. (2020). Metodologi Penelitian Hukum sebagai Instrumen Mengurai Permasalahan Hukum Kontemporer. Gema Keadilan, 7(1), 20–33. https://doi.org/10.14710/gk.2020.7504
  7. Bramwell, B. (2011). Governance, the state and sustainable tourism: A political economy approach. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 19(4–5),459–477. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2011.576765
  8. de Oliveira, Í. A. (2021). Environmental Justice and Circular Economy: Analyzing Justice for Waste Pickers in Upcoming Circular Economy in Fortaleza, Brazil. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 1(3), 815–834. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-021-00045-w
  9. Djenontin, I. N. S., & Zulu, L. C. (2021). The quest for context-relevant governance of agro-forest landscape restoration in Central Malawi: Insights from local processes. Forest Policy and Economics, 131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2021.102555
  10. Effendi, R., Salsabila, H., & Malik, A. (2018). Pemahaman Tentang Lingkungan Berkelanjutan. MODUL, 18(2), 75–82. https://doi.org/10.14710/mdl.18.2.2018.75-82
  11. Erbaugh, J., & Nurrochmat, D. (2019). Paradigm shift and business as usual through policy layering: Forest-related policy change in Indonesia (1999-2016). Land Use Policy, 86,136-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.04.021
  12. Fisher, M., Dhiaulhaq, A., & Sahide, M. (2019). The politics, economies, and ecologies of Indonesia’s third generation of social forestry: An introduction to the special section. Forest and Society, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.24259/fs.v3i1.6348
  13. Hanum, W. N., Ha, T. T. D., & Firmandayu, N. (2024). Eliminating Ecological Damage in Geothermal Energy Extraction: Fulfillment of Ecological Rights by Proposing Permits Standardization. Journal of Law, Environmental and Justice, 2(2), 205–228. https://doi.org/10.62264/jlej.v2i2.105
  14. Indrajaya, Y., Yuwati, T. W., Lestari, S., Winarno, B., Narendra, B. H., Nugroho, H. Y. S. H., Rachmanadi, D., Pratiwi, P., Turjaman, M., Adi, R. N., Savitri, E., Putra, P. B., Santosa, P. B., Nugroho, N. P., Cahyono, S. A., Wahyuningtyas, R. S., Prayudyaningsih, R., Halwany, W., Siarudin, M., Widiyanto, A., Utomo, M. M. B., Sumardi, S., Winara, A., Wahyuni, T., & Mendham, D. (2022). Tropical forest landscape restoration in Indonesia: A review. Land, 11(3), 328. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11030328
  15. Jamin, M., Jaelani, A. K., Ly, D. Q., & Gershaneck, K. (2022). Legal Protection of Indigenous Community in Protected Forest Areas Based Forest City. Bestuur, 10(2), 198–212. https://doi.org/10.20961/bestuur. v10i2.66090
  16. Kaharuddin, K., Pudyatmoko, S., Fandeli, C., & Martani, W. (2020). Partisipasi Masyarakat Lokal dalam Pengembangan Ekowisata. Jurnal Ilmu Kehutanan, 14(1), 42–54. https://doi.org/10.22146/jik.57462
  17. Kasdorp, A. (2016). Regulatory intervention beyond the law: Towards a typology of the extra-legal frontier. European Journal of Risk Regulation,7(2),361–373. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1867299X00005778
  18. Kline, C. S., Hoarau-Heemstra, H., & Cavaliere, C. T. (2023). Wildlife Equity Theory for Multispecies Tourism Justice. Journal of Travel Research,62(6),1167–1180. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875221129254
  19. Kopnina, H. (2017). Commodification of natural resources and forest ecosystem services: Examining implications for forest protection. Environmental Conservation, 44(1),24–33. https://doi.org/10.1017/ S037 6892916000436
  20. Kurnia, I., & Yuan, L. Y. (2026). Inequality Between The Potential of Fishery Resources and The Poverty Level of Fisherman Communities in Coastal Areas. Law Reform,22(1),1–34. https://doi.org/10. 14710/lr.v22i1.76139
  21. Kurniasari, W. S., Hardjanto, U. S., & Diamantina, A. (2017). Tugas Dinas Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan dalam pengembangan objek wisata di Kabupaten Cilacap. Diponegoro Law Journal,6(2),1–10. https://doi.org/10. 14710/dlj.2017.17327
  22. Kurniawan, T., Muslim, M. A., & Sakapurnama, E. (2018). Regulatory impact assessment and its challenges: An empirical analysis from Indonesia. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences,39(1),105–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kjss.2017.12.004
  23. Mahardika, E. R., & Bayu, M. A. (2022). Legal Politics of Indonesian Environmental Management: Discourse between Maintaining Environmental Sustainability and Economic Interests. Indonesian Journal of Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, 1(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.15294/ijel.v1i1.56781
  24. Mahy, P. (2022). Indonesia’s Omnibus Law on Job Creation: Legal Hierarchy and Responses to Judicial Review in the Labour Cluster of Amendments. Asian Journal of Comparative Law, 17(1), 51–75. https://doi.org/10.1017/asjcl.2022.7
  25. Maryudi, A., Nawir, A. A., Sumardamto, P., Sekartaji, D. A., Soraya, E., Yuwono, T., Siswoko, B. D., Mulyana, B., & Supriyatno, N. (2017). Beyond good wood: Exploring strategies for small-scale forest growers and enterprises to benefit from legal and sustainable certification in Indonesia. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics,118(1),17–29. https://www.jarts.info/index.php/jarts/article/view/2017010351816
  26. Maskun, M., Halim, H., Mukhlis, M. M., Kamaruddin, H., Ratnawati, R., Aslan, J., Muchtasar, R., Kapugu, B. A., & Allo, Z. T. (2025). Legal Reform of Wastewater Management under the Job Creation Law in Kendari City: Between Regulatory Conflict and Environmental Ethics. Law Reform,21(2),295–320. https://doi.org/10.14710/lr.v21i2.68417
  27. Masnun, M. A., & Pratama, R. N. (2020). Regulations Harmonization of Proposal and Stipulation of Special Economic Zone in Indonesia. Law Reform, 16(2), 198–214. https://doi.org/10.14710/lr.v16i2.33784
  28. Mitchell, R. (2017). Sovereignty and Normative Conflict: International Legal Realism as a Theory of Uncertainty. Harvard International Law Journal, 58(2), 421–483. https://harvardilj.org/2017/06/sovereignty-and-normative-conflict-international-legal-realism-as-a-theory-of-uncertainty/
  29. Mutawalli, M., Ayub, Z. A., Maskun, M., & Napang, M. (2023). The Conference of Parties - 27 (COP-27) Agreement As an Instrument of State Policy in Handling Deforestation: A Comparative Study of Sweden and Indonesian Governments. Law Reform,19(1),1–24. https://doi.org/10. 14710/lr.v19i1.52926
  30. Muthmainnah, L., Mustansyir, R., & Tjahyadi, S. (2020). Kapitalisme, Krisis Ekologi, dan Keadilan Intergenerasi: Analisis Kritis atas Problem Pengelolaan Lingkungan Hidup di Indonesia. Mozaik Humaniora, 20(1), 57–69. https://doi.org/10.20473/mozaik.v20i1.15754
  31. Natalis, A., Purwanti, A., & Asmara, T. (2023). Anthropocentrism vs ecofeminism: How should modern environmental law be reformed? Sortuz, 13(1), 38–68. https://opo.iisj.net/index.php/sortuz/article/view/1686
  32. Nugroho, H. Y. S. H., Indrajaya, Y., Astana, S., Murniati, M., Suharti, S., Basuki, T. M., Yuwati, T. W., Putra, P. B., Narendra, B. H., Abdulah, L., Setyawati, T., Subarudi, S., Krisnawati, H., Purwanto, P., Saputra, M. H., Lisnawati, Y., Garsetiasih, R., Sawitri, R., Putri, I. A. S. L. P., Setiawan, O. Rahmila, Y. I. (2023). A chronicle of Indonesia’s forest management: A long step towards environmental sustainability and community welfare. Land, 12(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061238
  33. O’Donnell, E. L., & Talbot-Jones, J. (2018). Creating legal rights for rivers: Lessons from Australia, New Zealand, and India. Ecology and Society, 23(1). https://www.jstor.org/stable/26799037
  34. Ostrom, E. (2010). Beyond markets and states: Polycentric governance of complex economic systems. American Economic Review,100(3),641–672. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.100.3.641
  35. Pawestri, W. D., Sutanto, V., Aditya, K. L. S., Maajid, Q. N., & Adila, K. N. (2024). Investment in Infrastructure: A Comparative Study of the Regulation of Online Single Submission in Indonesia, Canada, and New Zealand. European Journal of Comparative Law and Governance, 2(1), 129-163. https://doi.org/10.1163/22134514-bja10068
  36. Pratama, M. R. P., Handayani, I. G. A. K. R., & Karjoko, L. (2025). Analisis Kebijakan Pemanfaatan Hutan Konservasi untuk Wisata Alam Berbasis Asas Manfaat dan Lestari (Studi Kasus TAHURA Mangkunagoro I Karanganyar). Politika Progresif : Jurnal Hukum, Politik Dan Humaniora,2(2),344–357. https://doi.org/10.62383/progres.v2i2.2031
  37. Redi, A., & Mizuno, K. (2025). Benefits and Costs of Legal Policy for the Food Estate Program in Indonesia. Law Reform, 21(1), 58–80. https://doi.org/10.14710/lr.v21i1.62903
  38. Reinsberg, B., & Westerwinter, O. (2023). Institutional overlap in global governance and the design of intergovernmental organizations. The Review of International Organizations,18(4),693–724. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11558-023-09488-2
  39. Riggs, R., Langston, J., Sayer, J., & Boedhihartono, A. K. (2016). Forest tenure and conflict in Indonesia: Contested rights in Rempek Village, Lombok. Land Use Policy,57,241–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.landusepol.2016.06.002
  40. Rohmy, A. M., Hartiwiningsih, H., & Handayani, I. G. A. K. R. (2024). Judicial mafia and ecological in-justice: Obstacles to policy enforcement in Indonesian forest management and protection. Trees, Forests and People, 17. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.tfp.2024.100613
  41. Sakina, A. W., Dibyorini, MC. C. R., Mahani, U. D., & Adiwirahayu, A. (2025). Keadilan ekologis dari hulu ke hilir: Sinergi multipihak dalam tata kelola air berbasis quintuple helix. Journal of Social Development Studies, 6(1). https://doi.org/ 10.22146/jsds.16768
  42. Salgado, S. (2024). Legal certainty and regulatory sandbox: Critical evaluation and recommendations. IUSTA, (61), 149–170. https://doi.org/10.15332/25005286.10701
  43. Sgroi, F. (2020). Forest resources and sustainable tourism, a combination for the resilience of the landscape and development of mountain areas. Science of the Total Environment, 736. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139539
  44. Shcherbanyuk, O., Gordieiev, V., & Bzova, L. (2023). Legal nature of the principle of legal certainty as a component element of the rule of law. Juridical Tribune - Review of Comparative and International Law, 13(1), 21–31. https://doi.org/10.24818/TBJ/ 2023/13/1.02
  45. Sopaheluwakan, W. R. I., Fatem, S., Kutanegara, P., & Maryudi, A. (2023). Two-decade decentralization and recognition of customary forest rights: Cases from special autonomy policy in West Papua, Indonesia. Forest Policy and Economics, 151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2023.102951
  46. Stubenrauch, J., & Garske, B. (2023). Forest protection in the EU’s renewable energy directive and nature conservation legislation in light of the climate and biodiversity crisis – Identifying legal shortcomings and solutions. Forest Policy and Economics, 153. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.forpol.2023.102996
  47. Turisno, B. E., Dewi, I. G. S., Mahmudah, S., & Soemarmi, A. (2021). Recovery policy and proper management of mangrove forests to preserve environmental sustainability and ecotourism in bangkalan Indonesia. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism,12(8),2188–2193. https://doi.org/10.14505/jemt.v12.8(56).17
  48. Turisno, B. E., Suharto, R., & Priyono, E. A. (2018). Peran serta masyarakat dan kewenangan pemerintah dalam konservasi mangrove sebagai upaya mencegah rob dan banjir serta sebagai tempat wisata. Masalah-Masalah Hukum, 47(4), 479–497. https://doi.org/10.14710/mmh.47.4.2018.479-497
  49. Wibawa, I. P. S., Samekto, F. X. A., & Gelgel, I. P. (2019). Determination of the sacred space uluwatu temple with the gis approach. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 8(11), 954–958. https://www.ijstr.org/final-print/nov2019/Determination-Of-The-Sacred-Space-Uluwatu-Temple-With-The-Gis-Approach.pdf
  50. Djafar, E. M., Widayanti, T. F., Saidi, M. D., Muin, A. M., & Ratnawati, R. (2023). Forest management to achieve sustainable forestry policy in Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1181. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1181/1/ 012021
  51. Nugroho, A. W. (2020). Ecotourism implementation for tropical forest resource conservation in Indonesia: Legal aspects. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 533. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/533/1/ 012001
  52. Pinem, R. J., Widayanto, W., & Rahmanda, B. (2022). Eco-tourism development strategies to achieve sustainable development goals in Mangrove Park Pekalongan. In: International Conference Proceeding ICISPE Universitas Diponegoro 22 Embracing Global Transformation: Collaborative Innovations Trough Social And Political Research 7-8 Sept 2022. ICISPE Fisip Undip, Semarang. https://eprints2.undip.ac.id/id/eprint/17042/
  53. Kementerian Kehutanan Republik Indonesia. (2025). Hutan dan Deforestasi Indonesia Tahun 2024. Retrieved from https://www.kehutanan.go.id/news/article-10
  54. Madani Berkelanjutan. (2021). Indonesia’s reduction of deforestation: A stepping stone towards environment and forest protection oriented economic development (Press release/report). Retrieved from https://madaniberkelanjutan.id/indonesias-reduction-of-deforestation-a-stepping-stone-towards-environment-and-forest-protection-oriented-economic-development/
  55. Pusat Standardisasi dan Lingkungan Hidup (Pustarhut). (2024). Kajian Teknis Standar Pengelolaan Tahura, Sebuah Acuan Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Hutan. Retrieved from https://pustarhut.bsilhk.menlhk.go.id/ kajian-teknis-standar-pengelolaan-tahura-sebuah-acuan-pengelolaan-sumberdaya-hutan
  56. United Nations. (2025). Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/peace-justice/
  57. Baxter, B. (2004). A Theory of Ecological Justice. London:Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203458495
  58. Covell, C. (1992). Lon L. Fuller and the defence of natural law. In C. Covell (Ed.), The Defence of Natural Law: A Study of the Ideas of Law and Justice in the Writings of Lon L. Fuller, Michael Oakeshot, F. A. Hayek, Ronald Dworkin and John Finnis (pp. 30–70). London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-22359-6_2
  59. Fuller, L. L. (1977). The Morality of Law. New Haven: Yale University Press. http://archive.org/details/moralityoflaw00full
  60. Kelsen, H. (1992). Introduction to the Problems of Legal Theory: A Translation of the First Edition of the Reine Rechtslehre or Pure Theory of Law. Oxford: Clarendon Press
  61. Reeves, A. R. (2017). Ronald Dworkin’s legal philosophy. In Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (pp.1–6).Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6730-0_2-1

Last update:

No citation recorded.

Last update:

No citation recorded.