The Regulation and Policy Models of Pekalongan Local Government Toward Mangrove Conservation Bambang E
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The regulation and policy models of Pekalongan Local Government toward mangrove conservation Bambang E. Turisno, Siti Mahmudah, Yunanto Faculty of Law, Universitas Diponegoro, Jalan Prof. Soedarto, SH, Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia. Corresponding author: B. E. Turisno, [email protected] Abstract. Offshore developments increasingly threaten coastal ecosystems, and the mangrove forest is one of the tropical ecosystems possessed by Indonesia in most offshore areas. This study aims to identify and analyze the Pekalongan City government's policies and principles related to mangrove conservation. The method used is empirical with descriptive-analytics interpretation. This study uses primary and secondary data and analyses them using qualitative methods. Research objects include data and information on regulations and policies concerning mangroves conservation accompanied by other legal materials. The results are expected to provide a framework outlook for policymakers, both the local government and communities engaged in mangrove conservation. The results of the qualitative analysis show that the provincial government regulates the damage prevention of coastal activities by establishing conservation areas. The Pekalongan Government established a mangrove forest conservation area in Kandang Panjang that was initially an unproductive shrimp farm owned by the Office of Fisheries and Marine Affairs. Mangrove forests are managed by the Department of Tourism, the Office of Fisheries and Marine Affairs, and the Office of the Environment. Functionally, the coordination team sets responsibilities and capacities to build collaboration and encourage community involvement together with the Tourism Awareness Group and the Community Monitoring Group. Key Words: coastal ecosystem, local government, mangrove, conservation, Pekalongan City. Introduction. Based on the Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 1/2014 concerning the Management of Coastal Zones and Small Islands, Article 1 paragraph 7, coastal waters are the seas bordering the land as far as 12 nautical miles measured from the coastline; this area connects beaches and islands, estuaries, bays, shallow waters, swamps, and lagoons. As regulated in Law Number 24/1992, Article 9 paragraph 2 concerning Spatial Planning, the control policy of coastal areas (both the sea and air) is organized by the central government. Law Number 23/2014, Article 27 (1, 2, and 3) concerning the Regional Government states that the provinces are granted the local autonomy to govern natural resources in their respective sea territories. Provincial regions are given authorization in the management of marine resources (excluding oil and gas), administrative organizations, and spatial arrangements by performing exploration, exploitation, and conservation. In managing these resources, the local government can reach the area as far as 12 nautical miles measured from the coastline to the open sea and/or towards archipelago waters. According to Law Number 23/2014 regarding Regional Government, regional governments are obliged to maintain Government Affairs related to Basic Services such as the implementation of spatial planning. As pointed in Article 21 (2), Law Number 3/2010 concerning Environmental Protection and Management of Pekalongan City, the local government is commanded to establish instruments to prevent pollution and monitor the quality of the coastal ecosystem. Cities located in coastal areas have independence in the management and utilization of the coastal regions. Coastal areas are rich in marine and waterfront resources and have the potential to be developed as a tourism site. Areas with extremely high levels of biodiversity (natural biodiversity) are the source of ecotourism activities. AACL Bioflux, 2020, Volume 13, Issue 5. 2910 http://www.bioflux.com.ro/aacl Therefore, coastal areas in tropical countries are widely promoted for the tourism industry (White et al 1997). One of the coastal ecosystems that can be utilized as an ecotourism site in Indonesia is mangrove forests. According to the United Nations, the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals expects countries to set aspirations for protection, conservation, or restoration of coastal ecosystems for mangroves by 2030 (Liao et al 2019). Mangrove forests have capacities in controlling coastal abrasion, reducing wind velocity, accelerating the sedimentation rate, controlling seawater intrusion, reducing pollutants, as well as breeding sites for shrimp, crustacean, wild animals, and other marine biotas. Mangrove planting activity also impacts food production and increases the existence of Green Open Space. Studies in Egypt showed that economic diversification in coastal cities is further effective than any development that only relies on one commercial sector, especially if the growth of those sector variations is excellent and significant (Tarek et al 2012). As much as 5.7 hectares of mangrove forest on the north coast of Pekalongan City continues to grow, and a public plaza deemed as a conservation zone can benefit Pekalongan citizens and its surroundings. By considering the multifunction potential of mangrove forests, the government is required to preserve mangrove areas so that they can be utilized for the welfare of the people. This article identifies and explains local government policies in mangrove conservation attempts, especially in the Kandang Panjang mangrove area, Pekalongan City. Method. The method for the research approach is juridical and empirical analysis (Rosendo 2018) by describing the stipulations of Pekalongan City Government Laws. Primary and secondary data are collected and analyzed using qualitative methods (Eisma et al 2005). The research targets include data and information regarding the condition of the mangroves forest, government's regulations and policies toward mangrove conservation, legal materials, and other supporting data related to Pekalongan City. Results and Discussion The role and management of mangrove forests in Kandang Panjang, Pekalongan City. Coastal development deserves adequate care since coastal assets and resources have great potential in supporting national development (Waluyo 2014). Coastal areas have significant potential advantages: 1) renewable resources (mangrove forests, coral reefs, seagrass, seaweed, and fish); and 2) non-renewable resources such as mineral and geological resources, protected forest areas, tourism, transportation, and energy sources (Harahab 2010). The environmental degradation of coastal habitats (mangroves and coral reefs) due to coastal abrasion has become a pressing problem in the coastal environment (Effendi 2009). The disproportion between supply and demand such as overfishing resulting in scarcity; furthermore, the pollution from industrial activity, household wastes, agricultural, and vessels cleaning garbage in coastal areas also worsens water quality for fish farming (Ariyanto 2013). Beaches and coastal environments are quickly deteriorated due to human activities; therefore, conservation is vitally needed (Rahardjo 2006). For an illustration, the Solomon Islands are rich in natural resources but threatened by population growth and improper exploration of natural resources (McDonald 2006). The advantage of potential coastal resources for human good has limitations (Rahardjo 2006). Any human activity in coastal areas such as converting mangrove ecosystems for aquaculture purposes causes coastal destruction and abrasion. The research results upon the conversion of the mangrove ecosystem in Kedungmalang Village, Kedung Subdistrict in the Jepara Regency, showed a declining amount of catch by fishers (Redjeki 2013). The mangrove ecosystems destruction in the northern coastal region of Central Java Province causes physical and biological harm, which results in a weakened ability for the coastline to support marine life. Those practices endanger the sustainability of the coastal area conformity and the survival of coastal communities in economic, social, and AACL Bioflux, 2020, Volume 13, Issue 5. 2911 http://www.bioflux.com.ro/aacl environmental aspects (Zikra 2009). Mangrove forests are a standard label used to describe tropical ecosystems dominated by several unique species of trees or bushes that can grow in saline waters along tropical to subtropical coastlines (Arief 2001). Mangrove ecosystems have a variety of advantages both in ecological and economic aspects since they play an essential role in the sustainability of coastal and marine resources (Rusdianti 2012). In restoring the functions and benefits of damaged mangroves, supervision efforts are needed through mangrove rehabilitation and conservation. In a situation where mangroves are destroyed, anyone that manages, owns, and/or uses severe or unproductive mangrove forests must take rehabilitation actions for a conservation purpose (Law Number 41/1999 on Forestry, Article 43.) Mangrove forest restoration is practiced throughout subtropical areas to reduce deforestation and degradation, which can threaten coastal ecosystems and biodiversity (Thompson 2018). The central government, according to the Forestry Law No. 23/2014 concerning Regional Government must carry out the special-purpose management of forest areas, rehabilitation, forest reclamation, and the implementation of plant conservation. A case study of mangrove restoration in the Central Coast of Vietnam showed that the central government and local communities had different viewpoints in mangrove restoration. The central government