River buffer zones serve as protective areas that maintain river ecosystem balance
and regulate the impact of human activities. Normatively, the utilization of river
buffer zones is regulated by various laws and spatial planning policies, including
those implemented in the City of Yogyakarta. However, in practice, violations of
buffer zone utilization are still found along the Winongo River, particularly in
densely populated areas. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of law
enforcement against violations of river buffer zone utilization along the Winongo
River in the City of Yogyakarta and to identify factors influencing its effectiveness.
This research employs an empirical legal research method with a socio-juridical
approach. Data were collected through interviews with relevant government
agencies and a review of applicable laws and regulations, and were analyzed
qualitatively. The findings indicate that law enforcement against violations of the
Winongo River buffer zone has not been fully effective. This condition is influenced
by varying levels of public legal awareness, socio-economic conditions of local
residents, limited capacity of law enforcement authorities, and insufficient inter-agency coordination. Therefore, stronger coordination, adaptive social approaches, and consistent law enforcement are required to ensure the sustainable protection of the river buffer zone.