LOCAL COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT IN THE PROTECTION OF CORAL REEFS IN INDONESIA

One of main causes of coral reef ecosystem damage is the result of local community exploitation. The failure to pay attention to dimensions of knowledge and local institutions will result in the increasing threat of sustainability of this ecosystem. Economic and political factors contributed to the conservation of coral reef ecosystems. In enforcing the law, there are three elements that must be considered, namely legal certainty (rechtssicherheit), usefulness (zweckmassigkeit), and justice (gerechtigkeit). These three elements are by Gustav Radbruch said as supporting legal ideals (idee des rechts). The ideals of this law will guide people in their life of punishment. Although these three basic values must exist equally, often these three basic values are not always in harmony relation, opposite, contradictory, tension (spannungsverhaltnis). In the event of such a conflict, what should be prioritized is justice. Local community development policy is typical of policies that can provide opportunities as possible for local communities to determine their own needs and to determine the proper method to meet the needs. The greatest benefit of the empowerment efforts should be enjoyed by the community and local communities, to evaluate and improve the performance of various activities in conserving coral reefs.