This research examines land use planning and land control in the buffer zone of the Asahan Hilir River, a strategic area that intersects between the City of Tanjung Balai and Asahan Regency. North Sumatra Province. The river buffer zone is a protected area that has important ecological functions but is under pressure due to the development of settlements, plantations, and infrastructure that do not align with its intended use. The method used is empirical legal research and case studies, focusing on the inventory of land ownership status and land utilization. The study results show that based on inventory data, there are still settlements established without ownership rights to the land, either in the form of land rights certificates, based on control status, found in the study area in Asahan Regency and Tanjung Balai City totaling 7344 plots, with land rights status or lease status, as well as based on the use and utilization of space, including: community settlements, government and non-government buildings, markets, public facilities, state-owned enterprise plantations, private and community plantations, as well as palm oil mills (PKS) and sand mines. There are conflicts of interest between environmental preservation, regional development interests, and community needs. This research recommends a multidisciplinary approach in reorganizing the river buffer zone, through strengthening regulations, law enforcement, community participation, and the application of incentive and disincentive systems to encourage land use that aligns with its ecological functions.
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