Advocacy Coalitions and Knowledge Transfer within Geothermal Policy Change in Indonesian Conservation Forests

Abstract

The utilization of geothermal energy is recently disrupting the management of conservation forests. It has taken more than a decade to change related forest policy in justifying geothermal energy utilization in the conservation forests. This study combined the Advocacy Coalition Framework and the Research-Integration-Utilization models to analyze the driver of forest policy change related as per the legitimation of geothermal utilization linked to actor’s power and interests. Expert interviews, field observations, and document analysis were triangulated according to the methodology described in this study. The results show different interests of key actors affecting the geothermal practice through two opposing coalitions, namely, development and conservation coalition. Furthermore, the weak integration and implementation of science-based policy evoked conflicts, thus creating a deadlock for geothermal projects in the conservation forests. A sustainable and integrated policy is necessary to resolve conflicted interests without threatening the conservation forests and the local community.