Effectiveness of Environmental Law Enforcement in Illegal Mining Cases: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions

Abstract

Illegal mining has become one of the most serious environmental issues in Indonesia because it causes ecosystem
destruction, endangers community safety, and reduces potential state revenues. This research is important to assess the
extent to which environmental law enforcement can address the problem of illegal mining, which continues to grow
despite the implementation of various regulations. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of law
enforcement against illegal mining practices, identify the factors contributing to weak enforcement, and formulate
sustainable legal solutions. The method used is library research through the analysis of legislation, academic literature,
official government reports, and court decisions related to illegal mining. The findings indicate that law enforcement
remains ineffective due to weak monitoring, regulatory disharmony, overlapping institutional authorities, and
sanctions that fail to create a deterrent effect. In addition, local economic–political interests further undermine
enforcement effectiveness. This study concludes that successful environmental law enforcement requires
ecological-based regulatory reforms, strengthened integrated monitoring systems, enhanced transparency in law
enforcement processes, and the adoption of collaborative approaches involving the government, communities, and the
private sector. These reforms are essential to achieving a more just and sustainable management of natural resources.