Assessing Science-Based Solutions to Forest Management: A Case Study of the Upper Brantas River in Indonesia

Brantas river spring area (KMASB) is located in Batu, East Java, Indonesia. The forest
areas nowadays are damaged because its function is changing from forest to agriculture. Efforts
to solve these problems require the involvement of various parties. Including scientific solutions
to provide input in policy formulation. The transfer of scientific knowledge in policy can work
depending on whether decision-makers can turn scientific advice into policies that are acceptable
to all actors involved. To investigate the procedure for sharing scientific knowledge from cases
of endangered Brantas River resources in Indonesia, we adopt the "research-integrationutilization" model of science-policy interaction. Scientific knowledge is created through
scientific systems (research). Political actors implement a scientific-based solution to answer the
problems (utilization), and there must be significant linkages between research and utilization
(integration). We use empirical data to evaluate hypotheses about the research-integrationutilization model based on document analysis and expert interviews. According to our research,
the local government's use of its limited authority and improper application of scientific findings
are to blame for the failure of knowledge transfer. The Batu city government cannot turn the
scientific solution into a regulation while being required to employ scientifically sound solutions
as a prerequisite for creating regional regulations. The Batu city government put its own solutions
into practice because they think they are comprehend more thoroughly than the researchers.
Researchers are unable to participate in the integration process since the Batu city government is
a powerful actor to determine the scientific suggestions that are made.