Tata Kelola Konservasi Trenggiling Sunda (Manis javanica, Desmarest 1822) di Lanskap Bukit Barisan Selatan

The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is a nocturnal, ant- and termite-eating mammal that is legally protected at the national level and strictly prohibited from international trade. Globally, the species is classified as Critically Endangered due to persistent and poorly controlled transnational illegal wildlife trade. Strengthening the ecological and socio-institutional foundations of in-situ conservation has therefore been widely recommended by the international scientific community. However, pangolin conservation is highly complex and cannot be addressed by a single approach. A primary source of this complexity lies in data limitations. To date, reliable information on the spatial distribution of the Sunda pangolin and its habitat-use patterns across different land-cover types remains limited. This is largely due to the species’ movement across multiple habitat types and administrative boundaries, including areas outside protected zones. Such conditions complicate the determination of appropriate spatial scales and management boundaries for effective conservation. Additional complexity arises from stakeholder dynamics: the level of concern among actors living in and around pangolin habitats, as well as the relative importance of key biophysical and socio-economic factors influencing pangolin conservation, remains underdocumented. Policy opportunities and their implementation relevant to pangolin conservation also remain poorly articulated. Given that these factors jointly determine conservation success, this study aims to: (1) map the actual and potential distribution of pangolin habitats based on historical records and ecological evidence, including contributions from local ecological knowledge; (2) analyze stakeholder perspectives and their orientations toward key conservation drivers; (3) evaluate the prevailing policy framework (rules-in-form) supporting pangolin conservation; and (4) formulate inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable conservation intervention strategies. The study was conducted in the Bukit Barisan Selatan (BBS) landscape, Lampung Province, using an integrative research design that combined ecological, social, and policy analyses. Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) and semi-structured interviews with 12 stakeholder types, selected purposively based on direct involvement, representation of land-use and residential typologies, empirical knowledge, and socio-spatial variation. Snowball sampling with a purposive start was used for sensitive informants, such as former poachers and hunters, who were interviewed in depth until data saturation was achieved, in accordance with the principles of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC). Local ecological knowledge on pangolin habitat characteristics, particularly from local communities, was verified through field surveys. Triangulation was further conducted through expert interviews, complemented by a literature review. Habitat distribution was analyzed using MaxEnt modeling and validated with verified local ecological knowledge. Social–institutional dimensions, inter-factor relationships, and actor orientations were examined using MICMAC and MACTOR. Content analysis was applied to identify gaps between formal regulations and field-level practices, while all findings were synthesized through prospective analysis using MULTIPOL. The results show that the Sunda pangolin occupies mosaic habitats consisting of secondary forest–coffee or damar agroforestry–shrubland across steep to gentle slopes at elevations of 1,000–1,300 m above sea level. Suitable habitats are characterized by the presence of tree, soil, or rock burrows associated with ant nests and nearby water sources, supported by ecological evidence such as shed scales and claw marks on trees. Of all pangolin presence points identified within the BBS landscape (±4.54 million ha), approximately 70% were located within protected areas, while the remaining 30% occurred in protected forests, production forests, and Other Land Use (OLU; locally referred to as Areal Penggunaan Lain, APL). The presence of pangolins in OLU (11%) confirms that their habitat extends beyond administrative boundaries and formal land-use designations. This pattern is supported by MaxEnt modeling results (AUC = 0.864 ± 0.044), indicating moderate-to-high habitat suitability outside protected areas. Although unevenly distributed, local ecological knowledge proved relatively accurate and complemented ecological evidence, underscoring the importance of integrating formal conservation areas with locally managed landscapes. Across the 12 stakeholder types, instrumental values toward pangolins were more prominent than intrinsic values. Factor analysis identified seven key leverage factors, predominantly shaped by socio-economic dimensions—particularly tenure security (AksesPasti), livelihood diversification (DiversiEco), and incentives for pangolin protection (ImbalSerah). Ecological ethics (HakHidup) and coexistence (Koeksisten) emerged as downstream outcomes rather than primary drivers of behavioral change. Institutionally, collaborative conservation is widely recognized as necessary, encompassing control of price information (StopInfo), strengthened monitoring and financing (PantauDana), consistent law enforcement (TegasHukum), and concrete field-level actions (AksiTapak). However, implementation remains weak and fragmented, particularly in efforts to develop community-based ex situ conservation integrated within in situ habitats (ComConserve), owing to the absence of clear technical mandates. Future conservation governance should focus on strengthening existing community partnerships toward genuine multi-stakeholder collaboration. Achieving this transition requires six multidimensional indicators: ecological sustainability, economic viability, social equity, legal certainty, accountability, and technological capacity. In this context, the concept of Preservation Areas (“Areal Preservasi”), as stipulated under Law No. 32 of 2024, offers an institutional opportunity to advance landscape-based conservation. Priority actions include establishing village conservation cadres, formal recognition of tenure and management rights, and providing performance-based incentive mechanisms. Ultimately, a paradigm shift in conservation is unavoidable as land-use dynamics continue to change. Science must serve as the foundational basis, enriched by local knowledge and strengthened stakeholder capacity, enabling ecological “cold data” to be transformed into more contextual, transparent, and accountable decision-making—or “warm data.”