Lake and the laws: An exploratory network analysis of legal provisions for lake management

Abstract

Integrated lake management requires coherence of various regulations related to environmental preservation and natural resource use. There are, as of yet, no specific laws governing lake management. Legal provisions related to lake management are widely scattered in various environmental legislations. Legal provisions provide a framework for stakeholders, especially government agencies, to take the various actions required in lake management and have a major impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of implementing these measures. This study aims to analyse the relationship between various legal provisions of lake management as mandated in laws and regulations. The method used in this research is exploratory quantitative method by applying social network analysis tools. The data used are 32 laws and government regulations identified have relevance to lake management. The analysis shows that the legal provisions of lake management in Indonesia are complex and tend to be sectoral. The complexity on the one hand gives an indication that the management of the lake has been arranged in detail and on the other hand shows the neglect of complexity and ambiguity in implementation. Weak law enforcement also adds to the problem of implementation. The implication of these findings is the need for government efforts to synchronize various regulations in lake management.