ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTITUTIONALISM IN CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OF FOREST FIRE CASES IN RIAU PROVINCE

This study analyzes the enforcement of criminal law in forest fire cases in Riau Province from the perspective of environmental constitutionalism, which positions environmental protection as a constitutional right of citizens and a responsibility of the state. The research is motivated by the recurring forest and land fires that have caused serious impacts on public health, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic conditions, while environmental criminal law enforcement remains insufficient and ineffective. The study employs normative legal research using statutory, conceptual, and case approaches. Primary and secondary legal materials, as well as policy documents related to environmental law enforcement, were systematically examined. NVivo 12 Plus was used to support qualitative analysis and strengthen the interpretation of legal findings. The results show that Indonesia’s environmental criminal law framework is relatively adequate at the normative level; however, its implementation in handling forest fires in Riau continues to face structural challenges. These include inconsistent law enforcement, limited capacity and integrity of law enforcement officials, and weak corporate accountability in land management practices. Law enforcement tends to be reactive and focuses primarily on individual perpetrators rather than addressing corporate responsibility and broader structural causes. As a result, the constitutional mandate to guarantee the right to a good and healthy environment has not been fully realized. This study concludes that effective criminal law enforcement against forest fires requires the integration of constitutional principles, environmental policies, and fair law enforcement practices. Strengthening environmental constitutionalism is essential to ensure sustainable environmental governance and substantive protection of environmental rights.