Legal aspects and development of Bandar Bakau Dumai, Indonesia as a mangrove conservation and ecotourism area

One of the nations with the world's greatest mangrove forest areas is Indonesia. Mangrove forests serve to avoid abrasion but are also advantageous for the socioeconomic well-being of the neighborhood. Bandar Bakau Dumai (BBD) is a mangrove conservation and ecotourism area located on the outskirts of Dumai City, Indonesia. The study aims to examine the legal aspects of BBD as an ecotourism destination and mangrove conservation area. The work was conducted by observation, interviews, unstructured in-depth interviews, and literature studies. In general, the legal aspects of the BBD as a mangrove conservation and ecotourism area in Dumai City are not yet comprehensive. The physical condition of the area, flora, and fauna of the BBD mangroves are still relatively good. However, supporting facilities and infrastructure are generally less maintained. To reverse this role, the recommended development strategies include; 1) the formulation of a Regional Regulation of the City of Dumai concerning the management of the BBD area in a holistic, integrative, and participatory manner; 2) the development of facilities and infrastructure needed by BBD through government programs; 3) development of human resources managing ecotourism and mangrove conservation at BBD; 4) construction of embankments to resist coastal abrasion by the government or industry.