Abstract
Conservation area buffer zones are recognized to provide ecological, social, and economic benefits in supporting conservation areas' integrity. Nevertheless, little is known hitherto about the development dynamics of conservation area buffer zones in Indonesia. Therefore, a study concerning theory, policy, and management of the conservation area buffer zones in Indonesia is necessary to analyze its performance, identify problems in its implementation, and formulate its evidence-based development policy. This study aims to identify and analyze issues in implementing the concept of conservation area buffer zone as well as recommend policy formulation to accelerate the development of conservation area buffer zones in Indonesia. This study is an exploratory research through a literature review with semi-systematic approach. It finds that there are only nine out of 530 (1.7%) conservation areas in Indonesia with a formally established buffer zone. This condition is mainly due to the absence of buffer zone institutions at the regional government levels. Meanwhile, the management of supposedly buffer zones has been conducted through various projects for strengthening the functions of buffer zones by conservation area managers, either in the form of land-based or non-land-based projects. This study results in recommendations for all interested parties to urge the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Home Affairs to promulgate and renew the regulations concerning the procedures of establishing and managing conservation area buffer zones. Moreover, regarding the institutional aspect, there is a need for a particular structure in both ministries to address community empowerment issues at the site level.
Highlights
The term “buffer zone” became known globally after the launch of Man and Biosphere (MAB) programs by UNESCO in 1971
Formal regulations on conservation area buffer zones in Indonesia According to the Law of the Republic of Indonesia (Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia/UU RI) Number 12/2011 concerning establishment of legislation, the hierarchy structure of formal regulations in Indonesia tops with the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia (Undang-Undang Dasar Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945/UUD RI 1945) which has the most potent power of law, followed in descending order by the Decree of the People's Consultative Council (Ketetapan Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat/TAP MPR), UU RI and or the Government Regulation in Lieu of the Law (Peraturan Pemerintah Pengganti Undang-Undang/Perppu), the Government Regulation (Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia/PP RI), the Presidential Regulation, (Peraturan Presiden/Perpres), the Ministerial Regulation, the Provincial Regulation, and the Regional/Municipal Regulation
It states that the management of conservation area buffer zones remains in the rightful hands; the management procedures still have to comply with the provisions stipulated by PP RI
Summary
The term “buffer zone” became known globally after the launch of Man and Biosphere (MAB) programs by UNESCO in 1971. According to UNESCO (1996), a buffer zone could be in the form of an area surrounding or adjoining a biosphere reserve's core area. The core area could be a protected site for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem disturbances monitoring, non-destructive research, and low-impact use. This definition explains that the buffer zones of Biosphere Reserves, together with their transitional areas, lie outside the boundaries of protected sites, such as conservation areas. Buffer zones are acknowledged to provide ecological, social, economic, and institutional benefits. Buffer zones provide economic benefits, including giving local communities opportunities to utilize the direct and indirect use of forest resources and ecosystem services (Sayer, 1991). Today the development dynamics of conservation area buffer zones in Indonesia are still not widely known
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