Deforestation in Decentralization Era: An Institutional Perspective The Case of Deforestation in Semidang Bukit Kabu Protected Forest, District of Bengkulu Tengah, Indonesia

The decentralization forest management emerges as an alternative in managing forest since the centralized model shows the inability to reduce deforestation. Holding the decentralization prepositions such as encouraging local participation and transparency, it is assumed that the new approach will be able to create social justice for the forest fringe people and sustain the forest resources as well. This study takes a case in Indonesia, the deforestation of Semidang Bukit Kabu forest, where the decentralization forest management has been practiced since 1998. Focusing on the institutional perspective and analysing the relation between the state and the community during the decentralized regime, this study reveals that the main issues causing the failure of decentralization forest management in halting deforestation are the inability in providing clear regulation and reducing the conflict, and the inconsistency in addressing the issue of rural livelihood.