Trust in Network Governance of Lake Management in Indonesia: A Case Study of Lake Limboto, Gorontalo

Resum

Lake management in Indonesia is increasingly confronted with ecological complexity and institutional fragmentation involving multiple actors across sectors and levels of government. In this context, the network governance approach is often promoted as a normative solution to strengthen collaboration and policy effectiveness. However, the performance of governance networks frequently fails to align with their institutional design. This study departs from the assumption that trust constitutes a key relational element mediating the effectiveness of network governance in lake management. Employing a qualitative case study design with an interpretive approach, this research examines the governance of Lake Limboto in Gorontalo. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with central and local government actors, non-state actors, and local stakeholders, complemented by policy document analysis and limited observation. The findings reveal that while the governance network of Lake Limboto is structurally dense, it is relationally fragile. Horizontal trust among local actors tends to be stronger than vertical trust between central and local governments. Weak vertical trust generates patterns of symbolic collaboration, where coordination occurs administratively without being followed by consistent and sustainable collective action. This study underscores that trust functions as relational infrastructure within network governance and must be explicitly embedded in lake management policy design. The findings provide important implications for strengthening lake governance in Indonesia and similar contexts in developing countries.