skip to main content

Land Conflicts: Mapping Obstacles and Sustainable Solutions

1Department of Government Science, Universitas Jambi, Indonesia

2Department of Law, Universitas Jambi, Indonesia

Received: 9 Aug 2024; Revised: 10 Jun 2025; Accepted: 5 Jul 2025; Available online: 25 Jul 2025; Published: 31 Jul 2025.
Editor(s): Budi Warsito

Citation Format:
Abstract

Land conflicts in Indonesia, especially in Jambi Province, have become an urgent issue affecting the ownership and management of agricultural land, forests and natural resources. This problem involves various parties and requires serious handling to reduce social tensions, increase justice, and ensure environmental sustainability. This research aims to explore trends, obstacles, and adaptive solutions in resolving land conflicts in Jambi Province, Indonesia. The research method used is qualitative, involving data collection stages through interviews, observation, and documentation of land conflict cases from various official sources. Nvivo 12 Plus was also used in this study to help code the data. The research findings highlight the complexity and escalation of the urgency of land conflicts in Jambi Province, which are widespread in the plantation and forestry sectors involving a large number of companies in various industrial sectors. The main obstacles faced in resolving conflicts include social tensions, legal uncertainty, lack of coordination, limited resources, lack of public awareness, rapid economic growth, and policy complexity. To overcome this challenge, adaptive and sustainable steps are needed, including strengthening the legal framework, increasing coordination between institutions, and community participation through inclusive dialogue. In addition, human rights and justice-based approaches are integrated to support sustainable conflict resolution while strengthening local capacity to be actively involved in the conflict resolution process. This research provides important insights for future policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. This research also provides important insights for formulating more effective and sustainable policies in dealing with land conflicts in Jambi Province, by integrating approaches based on human rights, justice and community participation.

Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: Land Conflict; land use; adaptive policy; land governance; sustainable development

Article Metrics:

  1. Abubakari, M., Twum, K. O., & Asokwah, G. A. (2020). From conflict to cooperation: The trajectories of large scale land investments on land conflict reversal in Ghana. Land Use Policy, 94, 104543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104543
  2. Ahani, S., & Dadashpoor, H. (2021). Land conflict management measures in peri-urban areas: a meta-synthesis review. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 64(11), 1909–1939. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2020.1852916
  3. Bennett, J., Ainslie, A., & Davis, J. (2013). Contested institutions? Traditional leaders and land access and control in communal areas of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Land Use Policy, 32, 27–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.10.011
  4. Berenschot, W., Dhiaulhaq, A., & Deviane, A. (2023). Local brokerage and international leverage: NGOs and land conflicts in Indonesia. Journal of International Development, 35(3), 505–520. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3640
  5. Boone, C. (2019). Legal Empowerment of the Poor through Property Rights Reform: Tensions and Trade-offs of Land Registration and Titling in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Development Studies, 55(3), 384–400. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2018.1451633
  6. Brown, G., & Raymond, C. M. (2014). Methods for identifying land use conflict potential using participatory mapping. Landscape and Urban Planning, 122, 196–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.11.007
  7. Cobbinah, P. B., Asibey, M. O., & Gyedu-Pensang, Y. A. (2020). Urban land use planning in Ghana: Navigating complex coalescence of land ownership and administration. Land Use Policy, 99, 105054. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105054
  8. de Jong, L., De Bruin, S., Knoop, J., & van Vliet, J. (2021). Understanding land-use change conflict: a systematic review of case studies. Journal of Land Use Science, 16(3), 223–239. https://doi.org/10.1080/1747423X.2021.1933226
  9. de Silva, S., Wu, T., Nyhus, P., Weaver, A., Thieme, A., Johnson, J., Wadey, J., Mossbrucker, A., Vu, T., Neang, T., Chen, B. S., Songer, M., & Leimgruber, P. (2023). Land-use change is associated with multi-century loss of elephant ecosystems in Asia. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 41598. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30650-8
  10. Delgado-Matas, C., Mola-Yudego, B., Gritten, D., Kiala-Kalusinga, D., & Pukkala, T. (2015). Land use evolution and management under recurrent conflict conditions: Umbundu agroforestry system in the Angolan Highlands. Land Use Policy, 42, 460–470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.07.018
  11. Dhiaulhaq, A., & McCarthy, J. F. (2020). Indigenous Rights and Agrarian Justice Framings in Forest Land Conflicts in Indonesia. Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology, 21(1), 34–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/14442213.2019.1670243
  12. Dhiaulhaq, A., McCarthy, J. F., & Yasmi, Y. (2018). Resolving industrial plantation conflicts in Indonesia: Can mediation deliver? Forest Policy and Economics, 91, 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2017.12.006
  13. Dieterle, C. (2022). Global Governance Meets Local Land Tenure: International Codes of Conduct for Responsible Land Investments in Uganda. Journal of Development Studies, 58(3), 582–598. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2021.1983165
  14. Fisher, J., Stutzman, H., Vedoveto, M., Delgado, D., Rivero, R., Quertehuari Dariquebe, W., Seclén Contreras, L., Souto, T., Harden, A., & Rhee, S. (2020). Collaborative Governance and Conflict Management: Lessons Learned and Good Practices from a Case Study in the Amazon Basin. Society and Natural Resources, 33(4), 538–553. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2019.1620389
  15. Fukase, E., & Martin, W. (2020). Economic growth, convergence, and world food demand and supply. World Development, 132, 104954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.104954
  16. Han, W., Zhang, X., & Zheng, X. (2020). Land use regulation and urban land value: Evidence from China. Land Use Policy, 92, 104432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104432
  17. Hellum, A., & Derman, B. (2004). Land reform and human rights in contemporary Zimbabwe: Balancing individual and social justice through an integrated human rights framework. World Development, 32(10 SPEC.ISS.), 1785–1805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.07.001
  18. Hilson, G. (2002). An overview of land use conflicts in mining communities. Land Use Policy, 19(1), 65–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-8377(01)00043-6
  19. Hjalager, A. M. (2020). Land-use conflicts in coastal tourism and the quest for governance innovations. Land Use Policy, 94, 104566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104566
  20. Hudecová, L., & Kyseľ, P. (2023). Legislative protection of agricultural land. Land Use Policy, 131, 106719. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106719
  21. Hunsberger, C., Work, C., & Herre, R. (2018). Linking climate change strategies and land conflicts in Cambodia: Evidence from the Greater Aural region. World Development, 108, 309–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.02.008
  22. Ibrahim, A. H. H., Baharuddin, T., & Wance, M. (2023). Developing a Forest City in a New Capital City: A Thematic Analysis of the Indonesian Government’s Plans. Jurnal Bina Praja, 15(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/ 10.21787/jbp.15.2023.1-13
  23. Jiang, S., Meng, J., Zhu, L., & Cheng, H. (2021). Spatial-temporal pattern of land use conflict in China and its multilevel driving mechanisms. Science of the Total Environment, 801, 149697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149697
  24. Köhne, M. (2014). Multi-stakeholder initiative governance as assemblage: Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil as a political resource in land conflicts related to oil palm plantations. Agriculture and Human Values, 31(3), 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-014-9507-5
  25. Li, T. M. (2014). What is land? Assembling a resource for global investment. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 39(4), 589–602. https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12065
  26. Mccarthy, J. F., Vel, J. A. C., & Afiff, S. (2012). Trajectories of land acquisition and enclosure: development schemes, virtual land grabs, and green acquisitions in Indonesia’s Outer Islands. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 39(2), 521–549. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2012.671768
  27. Mesgar, M., Ramirez-Lovering, D., & El-Sioufi, M. (2021). Tension, conflict, and negotiability of land for infrastructure retrofit practices in informal settlements. Land, 10(12), 1311. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10121311
  28. Peters, P. E. (2004). Inequality and social conflict over land in Africa. Journal of Agrarian Change, 4(3), 269–314. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0366.2004.00080.x
  29. Rejekiningsih, T. (2015). Law Awareness Forming Strategies to Reinforce The Principles of Social Function of Land Rights Within The Moral Dimension of Citizenship. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 211, 69–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.11.011
  30. Riggs, R. A., Sayer, J., Margules, C., Boedhihartono, A. K., Langston, J. D., & Sutanto, H. (2016). Forest tenure and conflict in Indonesia: Contested rights in Rempek Village, Lombok. Land Use Policy, 57, 241–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.06.002
  31. Roengtam, S., & Agustiyara, A. (2022). Collaborative governance for forest land use policy implementation and development. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1), 2073670. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2022.2073670
  32. Sanga, S. A., & Moyo, K. J. (2018). Women, Awareness and Land Conflicts: Evidence from Makete Tanzania. African Journal of Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, 1(1), 33–50. https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.304729
  33. Scheidel, A., Del Bene, D., Liu, J., Navas, G., Mingorría, S., Demaria, F., Avila, S., Roy, B., Ertör, I., Temper, L., & Martínez-Alier, J. (2020). Environmental conflicts and defenders: A global overview. Global Environmental Change, 63, 102104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102104
  34. Scheidel, A., Temper, L., Demaria, F., & Martínez-Alier, J. (2018). Ecological distribution conflicts as forces for sustainability: an overview and conceptual framework. Sustainability Science, 13(3), 585–598. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-017-0519-0
  35. Skogen, K. (2003). Adapting adaptive management to a cultural understanding of land use conflicts. Society and Natural Resources, 16(5), 435–450. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920309180
  36. Skyner, L. (2001). Political conflict and legal uncertainty: The privatisation of land ownership in Russia. Europe - Asia Studies, 53(7), 981–999. https://doi.org/10.1080/09668130120085001
  37. Suprayitno, T. (2024). Nasib Suku Anak Dalam, Berkonflik Lahan dengan Anak Usaha PTPN. Mongabay.Co.Id. https://mongabay.co.id/2024/04/19/nasib-suku-anak-dalam-berkonflik-lahan-dengan-anak-usaha-ptpn/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
  38. Tian, L., & Ma, W. (2009). Government intervention in city development of China: A tool of land supply. Land Use Policy, 26(3), 599–609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2008.08.012
  39. Turimubumwe, P., Adam, A. G., & Alemie, B. K. (2023). Policy level analysis of public urban lands management in Burundi: insights for harmonization of policy frameworks. GeoJournal, 88(3), 3223–3237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-022-10801-6
  40. Wang, J., Zhai, T., Lin, Y., Kong, X., & He, T. (2019). Spatial imbalance and changes in supply and demand of ecosystem services in China. Science of the Total Environment, 657, 781–791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.080
  41. Wicaksono, A. (2023, September 24). Data KPA: 2.710 Konflik Agraria Selama 9 Tahun Pemerintahan Jokowi. Cnnindonesia.Com. https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20230924150644-20-1003085/data-kpa-2710-konflik-agraria-selama-9-tahun-pemerintahan-jokowi
  42. Wolford, W. (2010). Participatory democracy by default: Land reform, social movements and the state in Brazil. Journal of Peasant Studies, 37(1), 91–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150903498770
  43. Yep, R., & Fong, C. (2009). Land conflicts, rural finance and capacity of the Chinese state. Public Administration and Development, 29(1), 69–78. https://doi.org/10.1002/pad.498
  44. Zhou, Y., Li, X., & Liu, Y. (2020). Rural land system reforms in China: History, issues, measures and prospects. Land Use Policy, 91, 104330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104330
  45. Zou, L., Liu, Y., Wang, J., & Yang, Y. (2021). An analysis of land use conflict potentials based on ecological-production-living function in the southeast coastal area of China. Ecological Indicators, 122, 107297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107297

Last update:

No citation recorded.

Last update: 2025-08-10 08:24:50

No citation recorded.