The Challenges of Environmental Law Enforcement by Local Governments in the Era of Autonomy

Abstract

The implementation of regional autonomy in Indonesia grants greater authority to local governments in managing natural resources and the environment. However, in practice, environmental law enforcement by local governments faces numerous challenges. Key obstacles include overlapping regulations between central and local governments, limited human and financial resources, and low public legal awareness regarding environmental issues. Cases in South Sumatra and Riau reveal that bureaucratic procedures in social forestry permits hinder community participation in the legal management of forests, thereby increasing the risk of conflict and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. Additionally, weak inter-agency coordination and limited institutional capacity at the regional level further exacerbate the situation. To address these issues, it is necessary to enhance institutional capacity, harmonize regulations between central and local governments, and strengthen community involvement in environmental monitoring and law enforcement.