Collaborative Approaches and Power Imbalances in Community-Based Forest Management: A Case Study from Rural Java, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46507/jcgpp.v7i1.687Keywords:
Collaborative Governance, Community-Based Forest Management, Power Imbalances, Rural JavaAbstract
Sustainable Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) relies on collaboration among diverse actors, including local communities, NGOs, universities, and government institutions. This study examines collaborative approaches and power relations in CBFM in rural Java, with a focus on Gunungkidul, Indonesia. Using a collaborative governance framework and a power dynamics lens, it analyses how authority, legitimacy, and resource control shape collaboration. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), document analysis, and Social Network Analysis (SNA). The findings indicate that decision-making is framed as democratic, and that knowledge and resource sharing support sustainable CBFM. However, authority remains centralised at the national level, constraining inclusive governance. Local communities and NGOs, by contrast, play a prominent role in implementation due to their resources and legitimacy. These insights contribute to debates on collaborative governance in the Global South, showing that collaboration does not necessarily follow formal authority structures. The study also speaks to SDG 1, Target 1.4, by improving access to land and economic resources for vulnerable forest communities, and to SDG 17, Target 17.16, by strengthening multi-actor partnerships for sustainable forest governance. Future research should compare multiple CBFM cases to capture variation in collaborative practices and grassroots power dynamics.
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