Ecological Pressure and Biodiversity Conservation in Protected Areas: MDS Approach on Road Development in TN Babul, Indonesia

Authors

  • Safri Arif

    Department of Environment Sciences, Graduate School, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia
  • Harsuko Riniwati

    Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia
  • Gatot Ciptadi

    Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia
  • Hasnidar

    Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar 90231, Indonesia
  • Reny Tiarantika

    Department of Environment Sciences, Graduate School, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v7i4.10323
Received: 03 June 2025 | Revised: 11 June 2025 | Accepted: 18 June 2025 | Published Online: 9 October 2025

Abstract

Infrastructure development within protected areas has become a critical concern in biodiversity conservation, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park (TN Babul), Indonesia. This study aims to evaluate the ecological, social, economic, institutional, and infrastructural sustainability of the Maros–Watampone road corridor that crosses TN Babul. Using a qualitative descriptive design, the research employed the Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) method supported by leverage and Monte Carlo analysis. Data were gathered from key stakeholders through purposive sampling and analyzed based on sustainability attributes across five dimensions. The findings reveal that environmental, institutional, and infrastructure dimensions scored in the "less sustainable" category, indicating high ecological risk and governance gaps. In contrast, economic and social dimensions were moderately sustainable, reflecting emerging opportunities for inclusive growth. Sensitive attributes influencing sustainability include habitat fragmentation, road design, governance coordination, and community participation. The study concludes that balancing development with conservation requires integrated, multi-stakeholder strategies and targeted interventions that address the most vulnerable sustainability dimensions.

Keywords:

Protected Area; Sustainable Development; Ecological Impact; Road Infrastructure; Multidimensional Scaling (MDS); TN Babul; Stakeholder Analysis; Conservation Strategy

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How to Cite

Safri Arif, Harsuko Riniwati, Gatot Ciptadi, Hasnidar, & Reny Tiarantika. (2025). Ecological Pressure and Biodiversity Conservation in Protected Areas: MDS Approach on Road Development in TN Babul, Indonesia. Research in Ecology, 7(4), 176–194. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v7i4.10323

Issue

Vol. 7, Iss. 4 (October 2025)(in progress)

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Article

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Copyright © 2025 Safri Arif, Harsuko Riniwati, Gatot Ciptadi, Hasnidar, Reny Tiarantika

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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