LEGALITAS PEMANFAATAN KAWASAN HUTAN LINDUNG TANPA IZIN DALAM PERSPEKTIF HUKUM ADMINISTRASI LINGKUNGAN

(Studi Kasus Jalur Pendakian Gancik Gunung Merbabu)

Abstrak

Pemanfaatan kawasan hutan lindung sebagai destinasi wisata alam harus dilaksanakan berdasarkan prinsip legalitas dan mekanisme perizinan sebagaimana diatur dalam hukum administrasi lingkungan. Kenyataannya, masih terdapat jalur pendakian yang dikelola oleh masyarakat tanpa memperoleh izin resmi dari otoritas yang berwenang, seperti yang terjadi pada Jalur Pendakian Gancik di kawasan Gunung Merbabu. Kondisi tersebut menimbulkan persoalan mengenai legalitas pemanfaatan kawasan hutan lindung, pertanggungjawaban administratif para pihak, serta model kebijakan yang mampu mengakomodasi perlindungan lingkungan dan kepentingan masyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis legalitas pemanfaatan kawasan hutan lindung tanpa izin, mengkaji bentuk pertanggungjawaban administratif para pihak, serta merumuskan model kebijakan pengelolaan jalur pendakian yang berorientasi pada kepastian hukum dan keberlanjutan lingkungan. Penelitian menggunakan metode mixed methods dengan mengintegrasikan pendekatan yuridis normatif dan yuridis empiris. Pendekatan normatif dilakukan melalui analisis terhadap peraturan perundang-undangan, doktrin hukum, dan asas hukum administrasi lingkungan, sedangkan pendekatan empiris dilakukan melalui wawancara serta observasi lapangan pada Jalur Pendakian Gancik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemanfaatan Jalur Pendakian Gancik belum memenuhi prinsip legalitas karena tidak didasarkan pada kewenangan dan perizinan yang sah sesuai ketentuan peraturan perundang-undangan. Lemahnya pengawasan administrasi turut menyebabkan berkembangnya praktik pemanfaatan kawasan tanpa legalitas yang jelas. Penelitian ini menawarkan model kebijakan berupa penguatan mekanisme perizinan, peningkatan pengawasan administratif, serta pengelolaan wisata alam berbasis kolaborasi antara pemerintah dan masyarakat guna mewujudkan kepastian hukum, perlindungan lingkungan, dan keberlanjutan pengelolaan kawasan hutan lindung.

The utilization of protected forest areas for nature-based tourism must comply with the principle of legality and the licensing mechanisms established under environmental administrative law. In practice, however, several hiking trails are managed by local communities without obtaining official authorization from the competent authorities, as exemplified by the Gancik Hiking Trail in the Mount Merbabu protected forest area. This situation raises legal issues concerning the legitimacy of protected forest utilization, the administrative liability of the parties involved, and the formulation of an appropriate governance model that balances environmental protection with community interests. This study aims to analyze the legality of utilizing protected forest areas without official permits, examine the administrative responsibilities of the relevant stakeholders, and formulate a policy model for hiking trail management that promotes legal certainty and environmental sustainability. The research employs a mixed-methods approach by integrating normative juridical and empirical juridical methods. The normative approach examines statutory regulations, legal doctrines, and principles of environmental administrative law, while the empirical approach relies on field observations and interviews conducted with relevant stakeholders at the Gancik Hiking Trail. The findings indicate that the utilization of the Gancik Hiking Trail does not satisfy the principle of legality because it lacks valid administrative authority and the required licensing procedures under the applicable legal framework. Weak administrative supervision has further contributed to the continued operation of activities without legal authorization. This study proposes a policy model emphasizing strengthened licensing mechanisms, improved administrative oversight, and collaborative governance involving both government institutions and local communities to ensure legal certainty, environmental protection, and the sustainable management of protected forest areas.