WHEN CONSERVATION HARMS: Religious Ethics, Agrarian Justice, and Policy Reform in Tesso Nilo, Indonesia
Abstract
This study critically examines the governance of Tesso Nilo National Park (TNTN) in Riau, Indonesia, by highlighting the interplay between ecological conservation, agrarian justice, and religious values. Through a qualitative case study, the research reveals that top-down conservation policies have marginalized local communities, criminalized smallholders, and empowered corporate actors, creating a sharp divide between legal authority and social legitimacy. Despite systemic exclusion, communities demonstrate active resistance and engage in cooperative environmental initiatives grounded in Islamic ethical values such as khalifah (stewardship), amanah (responsibility), and mashlahah (public good). These values provide a normative framework for sustainable resource governance. The findings suggest that a hybrid governance model—integrating state institutions, civil society, and religious actors—is essential to foster inclusive coexistence and achieve dual justice: ecological sustainability and agrarian equity. This research contributes to environmental governance literature by proposing a faith-based justice framework that bridges ecological preservation with local sociocultural legitimacy
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24014/apjrs.v9i1.37816
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