Ecotourism has been a preferable option in utilizing resources within a protected area (PA) in developing countries as it is considered as a bridge between nature conservation and rural economic development. The aims of this study are: To evaluate the implementation of ecotourism in a national park and to investigate the key factors influencing the socio-economic outcomes of ecotourism for rural and remote communities. This study uses Sebangau National Park (SNP) in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, as a case study. This exploratory research was conducted using the qualitative method approach. Data collection included focus group discussion, in-depth interview, observation, and secondary data. A descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data. Results of the study show that despite local communities’ complaints on ecotourism development including its low income, local communities perceived that ecotourism is a feasible option for their livelihood sources. They were optimistic that in the future, income from ecotourism can be competed with other livelihood sources such as logging, fishing, collecting rattan, and tapping jelutung or rubber resin. However, the local community realized that their involvement in ecotourism activities needed several requirements including knowledge and skills about ecotourism as well as the involvement of other stakeholders.

This paper analyzes the processes by which the Sebangau National Park in Central Kalimantan (Indonesia) was established, along with the management activities implemented and the impacts of such activities on local communities. Employing an environmental justice lens, which revolved around procedural, recognition, and distribution issues, we found that local communities were not adequately consulted or involved in the establishment and management of the national park. Furthermore, approaches to mitigate the adverse impacts failed to fully consider the diverse cultures and customs with different livelihood strategies surrounding the park. The research also found that the options made available for local livelihoods were limited and did not meet specific needs and demands of certain ethnic groups. Overall, the transformation of the Sebangau production forest into a conservation area significantly disrupted local livelihoods and led to pronounced adverse economic, social, and cultural impacts. Thus, adequate attention to environmental justice must be made if park authorities are to improve the social acceptability of the national park. They should meaningfully engage the local communities in decision-making procedures related to park management, because they are directly impacted by the park. The authorities should also understand the different sociocultural aspects related to the local people surrounding the park and their different needs and livelihood strategies. Finally, the livelihood alternatives should be carefully assessed, and locals should be adequately consulted to ensure that these are socially and culturally accepted.

This study evaluates the impacts of the establishment of Sebangau National Park (SNP) in Indonesia, on local people’s livelihoods. SNP was established in 2004 and covers more than 560 thousand hectares of peat swamp forest in Central Kalimantan Province. SNP was a production forest for more than 20 years and almost half of the area has been degraded. SNP is surrounded by almost 50 thousand people whose livelihoods depend on SNP’s resources before, during, and after the changing status of the area from production to conservation forest. Nowadays, about 6-7% of local community are categorised as poor people and surviving from their subsistence livelihoods. This study shows that the establishment of the park changes the livelihood strategies of local communities. People shifted their livelihood sources from forest resource extractions, particularly logging, to agriculture (farming and fishing). Some strategies to maintain and improve the livelihoods of local communities within the restrictive regulations of SNP management include: (1) regulating the collection of non-timber forest products so that it would not threaten the ecological balance of the forests; (2) developing agroforestry system; (3) involving local communities in the rehabilitation programs within rehabilitation zone; (4) developing ecotourism; and (5) involving in communities in the REDD+ program prepared by SNP.