Policy and Regulatory Implementation in Water Resources Conservation Development in Indonesia: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

The suboptimal management of sustainable water resources in Indonesia stems primarily from the misalignment between economic, social, and environmental development strategies. Rapid population growth, characterized by diverse demographic dynamics, has intensified demands for essential resources such as food, water, energy, housing, and infrastructure. However, natural systems operate within ecological limits, necessitating prudent resource governance. Water resource conservation serves as a strategic pathway to achieving sustainable development, supported by a myriad of regulations and policy frameworks. The core issue, however, is not a lack of regulatory instruments or financial allocations but rather fragmented and overlapping policies that undermine implementation effectiveness. Regulatory contradictions have led to “programmatic cannibalism,” where interventions compete rather than complement, diminishing the impact and coherence of conservation efforts. Sectoral fragmentation at the bureaucratic level reflects the disjointed nature of the regulatory environment itself. Moreover, watershed-based planning frameworks often fail to align with local government budgeting and planning mechanisms. This study synthesizes the landscape of legal and policy instruments governing water resource conservation across multiple sectors—including forestry, energy, agriculture, environment, spatial planning, and public works—at national and subnational levels. Using a qualitative literature review approach, the paper draws from policy documents, regulatory texts, and relevant international references. The findings highlight the urgency of regulatory harmonization, institutional integration, and multilevel governance readiness to support sustainable, coherent, and outcome-oriented water resource conservation strategies.