Integrating the Human Dimension in Marine Spatial Planning: Lessons from Karimunjawa National Park, Indonesia

Abstract

Integrating the human dimension in Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has been a primary challenge for MSP practices worldwide. One of the main issues in MSP is meaningful participation. However, there is an empirical gap regarding how participation functions and its relationship to achieving social sustainability goals. This paper aims to answer this question by studying MSP in Karimunjawa National Park, Indonesia. A qualitative descriptive research approach was used for the data collection and analysis. The results highlight that participation in Karimunjawa provides captivating alternatives in terms of participation, specifically in the areas of planning and management. We conclude that participation in management can mitigate the negative effects resulting from the lack of participation in planning, which may be constrained by factors such as knowledge and power gaps, as well as time limitations. The case-study findings also indicate that community responsibility towards the environment is closely related to their authority in regulating the utilisation of resources. Abstract in Bahasa Indonesia: rb.gy/edsvb7