Biodiversity conservation at Betung Kerihun National Park: the positive role of customary law in mitigating a local community trust deficit

Areas rich in bio-cultural diversity, such as national parks, are in growing demand as nature-based tourism destinations, and have the potential to maximize the benefits of nature-based tourism for conservation. Various studies have demonstrated the essential role of social capital in the successful management of such parks. This paper similarly identified this key variable in efforts to enhance Betung Kerihun National Park as a protected area; however, an additional dynamic was found here to be crucially important. Trust is usually cited as the main component of social capital in effective sustainable area management. Data were collected through interviews, field observation and literature study. Interviews were conducted using convenience sampling technique. The research found that the level of trust evinced by the local community towards the national park authority was influenced by the access granted the former to the park's natural resources. Limitations on access, especially to resources important to local culture, (often governed by customary law), had significantly reduced that level of trust. However, the research also found that customary laws, as embodied in social norms, could have a positive impact on community participation in conservation activities, despite the reduced level of trust. The major conclusion of this research was that customary law, as a constituent of social norms, was a more important determining factor than trust, in the success of biodiversity conservation at Betung Kerihun National Park. The indigenous people perceived the national park as an entity deserving of care and respect, rather than just a resource; giving them a sense of place attachment towards the park and its resources. These results suggest that understanding complex social dynamics of a given situation and respect for customary law are effective ways to boost community empowerment as part of biodiversity conservation and the destination governance of Betung Kerihun National Park.