Implementation of Legal Protection for the Coral Reef Ecosystem of the Sawu Sea National Park in Kupang Regency, NTT Province

This study aims to evaluate the implementation of legal protection for coral reef ecosystems in Sawu Sea National Park, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. The research employs an empirical legal approach using a descriptive qualitative method with a case study design, focusing on how conservation laws and policies are implemented and function in practice. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with area management authorities, law enforcement officials, local government representatives, civil society organizations, and coastal communities, complemented by field observations and analysis of relevant legal and policy documents. The findings indicate that although regulatory frameworks and conservation policies are formally in place, their implementation remains ineffective. Limited supervision capacity, reflected in the insufficient number of officers, inadequate patrol facilities, and suboptimal use of marine monitoring technology, constitutes a major obstacle. Complex geographical conditions and weak inter-agency coordination further undermine law enforcement, resulting in sanctions that fail to produce a deterrent effect. Community participation in conservation efforts is also relatively low due to high dependence on marine resources, limited awareness of the impacts of overexploitation, unequal distribution of tourism benefits, and inadequate environmental education and legal outreach. Additionally, external factors such as climate change, including coral bleaching and extreme weather events, exacerbate reef degradation. This study recommends strengthening surveillance infrastructure and monitoring technology, enhancing the capacity and coordination of law enforcement institutions, promoting participatory and community-based conservation approaches, and integrating climate change adaptation strategies into coral reef protection policies to ensure ecological sustainability and more equitable socio-economic benefits for coastal communities.