The expansion of oil palm plantation by smallholders in Indonesia is taking place mainly by conversion of forest and arable land. This article aims to understand how institutional arrangements in the supply chain of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) affect decisions of smallholders to convert more land for oil palm cultivation instead of increasing productivity. Based on an analysis of in-depth interviews with involved actors we find that institutions meant to regulate land conversion are superseded by the structures that govern the transactions in the supply chain of FFB and that this reinforces decisions of smallholders to convert more land. Strategies designed to regulate land conversion need to look carefully at the interactions with the institutions ruling the supply chain of FFB. Institutional innovations such as establishing integrated governance structure from land use to market may induce farmers to focus on increasing productivity.

In this experiment, we test whether subjects’ responses to variations in the action set in a dictator game depends on induced group identities. The action set includes choices in which the dictator can either give money to or take money from the other player. As an extension to the anonymous setting, we introduce induced group identities using the minimal group paradigm. Based on a dictator game conducted with more than 300 students in Indonesia, we implement a full factorial design in order to analyze the framing of the action set in a varied cultural context and to examine varied prevalence of social norms given a group identity context. If group identity is not salient, we find that participants are slightly more generous when they have an opportunity to give to rather than to take from the recipient. However, when participants are matched with in-group members, this result is reversed and highly significant. The result of differing responses to framing effects in within-group interactions compared to a neutral setting are largely ascribed to the varied compliance with existing social norms.

The transition from a linear to a circular economy (CE) is a pressing imperative for Southeast Asia, a region facing rapid industrialization and environmental risks. This study, part of the CEBCAT project, examines the current state of higher education in Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam with respect to CE and sustainability. The purpose was to identify existing knowledge and ability gaps and instructional problems, thereby informing the development of a master's curriculum in CE and sustainability. Using a mixed-methods approach across six partner universities in Asia, data were collected from 103 individuals, including students, academic staff, and industry professionals. The findings reveal that, although there is a foundational awareness of sustainability, a deep conceptual understanding of the circular economy is limited. Critical skill gaps were identified in practical application, environmental impact assessment, and digital literacy, and a strong preference for experiential learning over purely theoretical or online instruction. However, the study highlights significant institutional barriers, including limited funding, outdated resources, and heavy faculty workloads. Effective CE capacity building requires a shift toward interdisciplinary, practice-based curricula supported by robust industry partnerships and institutional investment.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis kekurangan dan kelemahan substansi peraturan terkait pemanfaatan ruang laut dan pengelolaan Kawasan Konservasi Pulau (KKP) Gili Matra Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat dalam konteks kelembagaan pengelola KKP untuk mendukung pengembangan ekowisata berkelanjutan. Penelitian dilakukan di KKP Gili Matra pada bulan Agustus 2024 dengan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif melalui pemanfaatan data primer dan sekunder. Data primer diperoleh melalui wawancara semi-terstruktur dan mendalam dengan aktor-aktor utama yang terlibat dalam pengelolaan dan pemanfaatan ruang laut, sedangkan data sekunder diperoleh melalui analisis substansi tiga peraturan utama: Peraturan Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan No. 28 Tahun 2021 tentang Penyelenggaraan Penataan Ruang Laut, Keputusan menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan No. 34 Tahun 2022 tentang Penetapan KKP Gili Air, Gili Meno, dan Gili Trawangan, serta Keputusan Dirjen Pengelolaan Kelautan dan Ruang Laut No. 62 Tahun 2023 tentang Rencana Pengelolaan KKP Gili Matra Tahun 2023–2042. Analisis dilakukan menggunakan konsep rules-in-use dari Elinor Ostrom untuk menilai keselarasan antarperaturan dan efektivitas pengaturan kelembagaan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan masih terdapat ketidaksinkronan antara substansi peraturan pemanfaatan ruang laut dan pengelolaan KKP Gili Matra, yang berdampak pada hambatan implementasi kegiatan ekowisata. Ketidaksinkronan tersebut disebabkan oleh lemahnya koordinasi dan penguatan kelembagaan antar-pemangku kepentingan, serta belum optimalnya integrasi antara regulasi dan kondisi sosial-ekologis masyarakat setempat.TITLE: MARINE SPATIAL UTILIZATION FOR ECOTOURISM BASED ON OSTROM’S RULES-IN USE IN GILI MATRA CONSERVATION AREAThis study aims to analyze the weaknesses and deficiencies in the substance of regulations governing marine spatial utilization and the management of the Gili Matra Island Conservation Area (KKP Gili Matra) in West Nusa Tenggara Province, within the context of institutional arrangements supporting sustainable ecotourism development. The research was conducted in the Gili Matra Conservation Area in August 2024, using a qualitative approach that combined primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through semi-structured and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders involved in marine spatial utilization and conservation management, while secondary data were obtained through document analysis of three main regulations: the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation No. 28 of 2021 on Marine Spatial Planning Implementation, the Ministerial Decree No. 34 of 2022 on the Establishment of the Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan Conservation Area, and the Directorate General of Marine Spatial and Ocean Management Decree No. 62 of 2023 on the Management Plan of the Gili Matra Conservation Area 2023–2042. The analysis applied Elinor Ostrom’s rules-in-use framework to assess the coherence and institutional effectiveness of these regulations. The findings reveal inconsistencies between the regulatory frameworks of marine spatial utilization and conservation management, resulting in implementation challenges for ecotourism activities. These inconsistencies stem from weak institutional coordination among decision-makers and insufficient integration of regulatory instruments with local socio-ecological dynamics.

Graphical Abstract Highlight Research 1. SWOT–ISM analysis places Gili Matra MPA in a grow and build position with strong ecological–tourism potential. 2. Key drivers include regulation, zoning effectiveness, enforcement, institutional capacity, and infrastructure. 3. Linkage strategies focus on stakeholder collaboration, monitoring technologies, and local livelihood diversification. 4. EVIKA-based adaptive governance supports sustainable ecotourism and is transferable to similar MPAs. Abstract The Gili Matra Marine Conservation Area (Gili Matra MPA) in West Nusa Tenggara Province is under growing pressure from rapid marine tourism expansion, while internal governance constraints weaken management effectiveness, thereby increasing the vulnerability of coral reef and seagrass ecosystems to localized degradation. This study aims to optimize adaptive governance for sustainable ecotourism in the MPA through an integrated strategic analysis. Internal and external factors were assessed using analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT), while strategic hierarchies and key driving factors were identified using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). The resulting strategies were aligned with the Conservation Area Management Effectiveness Evaluation (EVIKA) framework to formulate policy-relevant recommendations. The SWOT analysis placed the MPA in the "grow and build" quadrant, noting strong assets but highlighting infrastructure and enforcement gaps. The ISM analysis revealed a lack of "autonomous strategies," instead identifying foundational drivers (regulation, law enforcement, and institutional capacity) that enable linkage strategies (collaboration and monitoring technology). These ultimately support outcome-oriented results like conservation-based tourism products and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes. In conclusion, implementing an adaptive governance roadmap aligned with the EVIKA framework is essential for sustainable management. Beyond its immediate application in Gili Matra, this model serves as a replicable framework for other marine conservation areas with comparable characteristics.