How Governance Interactions Across Multiple Levels Shape Strategies for Sustainable Private Forest Management: A Case Study of Bulukumba Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

The sustainability of private forest management has become increasingly important in response to natural forest degradation, market uncertainty, climate change, and institutional transformation. However, previous studies have mainly examined private forests from economic, ecological, social, or institutional perspectives, with limited attention to governance interactions across multiple governance levels. The study examines how governance interactions shape private forest management in Bulukumba Regency, Indonesia. A qualitative case study was conducted using in-depth interviews with 28 key informants, field observations, and document analysis. The results show that private forest management is shaped by interactions among economic, institutional, market, environmental, and social factors operating across micro, meso, and macro governance levels. At the micro level, farmers' economic rationality influences harvesting decisions while encouraging the retention of trees standing as long-term household assets. At the meso level, institutional restructuring following changes in forestry authority has reshaped coordination mechanisms. At the macro level, market dynamics and climate variability generate external pressures requiring adaptive governance responses. Across these levels, local social capital (assamaturu) strengthens coordination, collective action, and adaptive capacity. The study advances multilevel governance literature by demonstrating that governance interactions, rather than individual governance factors, provide the basis for developing strategies toward sustainable private forest management. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening institutional coordination, integrating formal governance with local social capital, and promoting adaptive governance to support long-term sustainability.

Access to Document

Other files and links

• Link to publication in Scopus
• Open Access Version Available

Fingerprint