Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): (GIJLSS) Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences (May - Jun

A Reconstruction of Justice in Natural Resource Governance Based on the Rights of Nature: The Restitution of the UNESA Reservoir in Surabaya

Berliana Ayu Kusumawardani (Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto, Indonesia.)
Abdul Aziz Nasihudin (Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto, Indonesia.)
Sri Wahyu Handayani (Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto, Indonesia.)



Article Info

Publish Date
12 Jun 2026

Abstract

The control of natural resources within the Indonesian legal system to date continues to reflect the dominance of an anthropocentric paradigm, positioning nature primarily as an object of exploitation. Consequently, the conception of justice that emerges remains largely confined to the distributional dimension of benefits for human interests. This condition has resulted in inadequate protection of ecological functions and the failure to realize substantive justice encompassing environmental sustainability. This study aims to analyze the construction of justice in the control of natural resources, to examine the concept of the Rights of Nature from the perspective of natural philosophy and its relevance to legal reform, and to formulate a model for reconstructing justice based on the Rights of Nature in the case of the restitution of the UNESA Reservoir in Surabaya. The research employs a normative legal method, utilizing conceptual, statutory, and case-based approaches. The findings indicate that justice in the control of natural resources has not fully integrated the ecological dimension, whereas the Rights of Nature concept provides a foundational basis for expanding the meaning of justice through the recognition of the intrinsic value of nature. The reconstruction of justice is carried out through the strengthening of normative, institutional, and governance aspects, positioning ecosystem sustainability as an integral component of justice itself.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

GIJLSS

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

Greenation International Journal of Law and Social Sciences (GIJLSS) is a journal that uses a blind peer-review model that can be accessed online. GIJLSS aims to publish a journal containing quality articles that will be able to contribute thoughts from theoretical and empirical perspectives for the ...