Abstract:
Urban forests play an important role in maintaining ecological quality while providing recreational
and social benefits for urban communities. However, the increasing utilization of urban forests as
leisure destinations raises concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of their ecological functions.
This study examines how governance mechanisms support the coexistence of conservation and urban
leisure in Langsa City Forest Park, Aceh, Indonesia. A mixed-methods approach with a sequential
explanatory design was employed, combining visitor surveys, stakeholder interviews, field
observations, and document analysis. Quantitative findings indicate that visitors strongly perceive the
recreational, educational, and social functions of the area, while ecological functions remain positively
valued. Qualitative findings reveal that the sustainability of ecological functions is supported by three
interrelated governance dimensions: institutional centrality, adaptive policy mechanisms, and multiactor collaboration. The Environmental Agency maintains a central role in conservation management,
while the 2022 Detailed Spatial Plan (RTRD) provides regulatory protection for ecologically sensitive
areas. Furthermore, collaboration among government agencies, site operators, conservation
institutions, and local communities strengthens monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management
processes. The findings demonstrate that urban leisure development does not necessarily conflict with
ecological conservation when supported by adaptive governance arrangements. This study contributes
to the growing discussion on conservation-based urban leisure by providing empirical evidence from
an emerging urban forest destination in Indonesia. |
