Legal and institutional aspects of coastal zone management in Indonesia

The Indonesian coastal zone harbours a rich and diverse resource base. It is, however, threatened by the great centres of coastal population and their economic activities. In 1982, to meet the challenge of protecting and preserving the marine environment, Indonesia adopted the Environmental Management Act (EMA), an umbrella law to cover all aspects of environmental management. The EMA lays down general national policy and authorises the Minister for the Environment to coordinate the management of the Indonesian environment in cooperation with sectoral ministers and the governors of 27 provinces. This article reviews the development of this policy, including Indonesia's active involve ment in regional and international cooperation.