Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 27 No. 4 (2026)

Institutional model for integrating Sasi and local wisdom into Indonesia's national mangrove conservation policy

ENO SUWARNO (Program of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry and Sains, Universitas Lancang Kuning. Jl. Yos Sudarso KM. 8, Pekanbaru 28271, Riau, Indonesia)
IRWAN EFFENDI (Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Riau. Jl. Bangau Sakti KM. 12.5, Pekanbaru 28293, Riau, Indonesia)
JENNY KOCE MATITAPUTTY (Program of History Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Pattimura. Jl. Ir M Putuhena, Ambon 97233, Maluku, Indonesia)
ZAINURI ZAINURI (Program of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Lancang Kuning. Jl. Yos Sudarso KM. 8, Pekanbaru 28271, Riau, Indonesia)
DODI SUKMA RA (Program of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry and Sains, Universitas Lancang Kuning. Jl. Yos Sudarso KM. 8, Pekanbaru 28271, Riau, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
18 May 2026

Abstract

Abstract. Suwarno E, Effendi I, Matitaputty JK, Zainuri, RA DS. 2026. Institutional model for integrating Sasi and local wisdom into Indonesia's national mangrove conservation policy. Biodiversitas 27 (4): d270409. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d270409. Indonesia's ambitious mangrove conservation targets face a persistent challenge in substantively integrating local governance systems like Sasi. This study employs a qualitative regulatory gap analysis of three document corpora: national legal instruments, ethnographic studies on Sasi, and supporting academic literature. We identify fundamental tensions between Maluku's temporally-based Sasi system and Indonesia's spatial zoning-based national mangrove policy, particularly regarding the non-recognition of traditional kewang authority and incompatibility between temporal moratoriums (Sasi tutup) and static spatial zoning. Complementary potential exists in monitoring and enforcement capacities. To bridge this gap, we propose the Temporal-Spatial Bridge (TSB) model, a hybrid institutional framework with four pillars: mutual legal recognition, nested temporal-spatial rules, tiered polycentric enforcement, and localized benefit-sharing. The model is presented as a conceptual hypothesis requiring empirical testing, not as a ready-to-implement policy framework. It offers potential to enhance biodiversity outcomes by embedding life-cycle protection into national planning and formalizing local ecological knowledge into adaptive management systems. We conclude that bridging legal pluralism in conservation requires deliberate institutional engineering, offering the TSB model as a conceptual template derived from the Maluku context for Indonesia and similar contexts.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

biodiv

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology

Description

The Biodiversitas Journal was first published in 2000 by the Department of Biology, FMNS, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia, then in 2006 it was co-published by the Society for Indonesian Biodiversity and that department; since 2017 it was also hosted by Smujo. From 2003-2012 it was ...