Strengthening the Role of Local Actors in Sustainable Coastal Management Systems

Dimas Wijaya; Mira Maulana; Teguh Kurniawan

Authors

Dimas Wijaya IPB University Author
Mira Maulana IPB University Author
Teguh Kurniawan Universitas Diponegoro Author

Keywords:

Coastal governance, Community participation, Local actors, Social-ecological system, Sustainable coastal management

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the strengthening of local actors’ roles in sustainable coastal management systems in the Gisik Cemandi coastal area, Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The study addresses the gap between formal coastal governance programs and the lived experiences of coastal communities. A qualitative case study design was used to explore how local actors interpret their roles, participate in decision-making, manage environmental change, and interact with formal institutions. Data were collected from 20 to 30 informants through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and document analysis. The participants included fishers, mangrove group members, tourism awareness group members, women involved in coastal economic activities, youth representatives, village officials, environmental volunteers, and relevant institutional actors. The findings reveal four main themes: local ecological knowledge as a basis for decision-making, community participation as social legitimacy, informal leadership as an institutional bridge, and structural constraints that limit local agency. The study shows that local actors are not only beneficiaries of coastal programs, but also knowledge holders, mediators, and key agents in sustaining coastal governance. These findings contribute to collaborative governance, co-management, and social-ecological system studies by emphasizing the importance of trust, inclusion, and local legitimacy. The study recommends stronger policy mechanisms that involve local actors from planning to evaluation and suggests future comparative research across different coastal communities.

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