CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN CONSERVATION AREAS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF TESSO NILO NATIONAL PARK, RIAU PROVINCE, INDONESIA

Abstract. Civil society plays an important role in the management of national
parks, but there needs to be more literature on the interactions of civil society with government.
Th e participatory management strategy has been criticized for articulating the
ideals of failed collaboration in the management of national parks. Th e implementation
of a collaborative management strategy has provided signifi cant opportunities and roles
for civil society in the management of the national park, taking into account the social,
economic, and cultural conditions and expectations of the local community. Th e aim
of this study is to empirically examine the participation of civil society and challenges
in the management of Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau Province. Using qualitative and
quantitative approaches through snowball interviews and social network modeling, and
conducting a case study analysis, our fi ndings show that the community is still given
a secondary role. Th e involvement of civil society in the collaborative management
of Tesso Nilo National Park still needs to be strengthened. However, the institutional
formation and the nature of their involvement in supporting and implementing activities
still needs to be improved. In some cases, community empowerment has already begun. Th e main challenges are related to regulations or policies, community capacity,
resources and governance relationships, therefore the objectives of collaborative national
park management activities have not been achieved.