How Effective is the Environmental Law for the Conservation of the Leuser Ecosystem Area in Indonesia?

Abstract

The article aimed to investigate the policies in the environmental law in Indonesia and its effectiveness for the Leuser ecosystem area. The method used in this research was a normative and empirical method through legal, comparative, and historical approach. The data were analyzed based on descriptive analysis through inductive and deductive interpretation. The results showed that the environmental law in Indonesia had undergone significant progress in many aspects, one of which was in a reinforcement of criminal and private law and the implementation of strict liability principle. In addition, the law employs a biocentrism principle aiming to improve people's lives by considering human as the center (anthropocentrism) to a holistic position; that is, all elements are related. However, the environmental law has not successfully been implemented due to the disputes between policymakers in the central and local governments, regarding development and environment, ecology and economy. Moreover, it is because the strict liability principle has not been considered as the foundation for law enforcement yet.

Mapping forest cover change in relation to oil palm commodities development using Google Earth Engine in the Leuser Ecosystem

“…The Leuser Ecosystem area comprises several protected areas, including Gunung Leuser National Park and Rawa Singkil Wildlife Reserve. It is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site [11]. In addition to its conservation and protected area functions, the Leuser Ecosystem encompasses forestry cultivation areas and non-forestry land uses, such as plantations and agriculture, reflecting a combination of conservation and sustainable land use practices The study area presented in figure 1.…”

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis for vegetation cover in Leuser Ecosystem area, Sumatra, Indonesia

“…In 2005, its forest cover reached 1,982,00 ha, and in 2009 it decreased to 1,946,000 ha, the degraded forest area of LEA thus reached 36,000 ha during 2005-2009 due to deforestation. Infrastructure development also became one of threats in LEA, which has affected fragmentation and degradation (Suhendra et al 2019). A half of road development was located in LEA's forests, and respectively in eight priority areas of conservation (Sloan et al 2017), which influences forest management and biodiversity conservation planning decisions.…”