Daatset for manuscript: From conservation to community ecotourism: historical analysis and governance challenges of Lantebung Mangrove Ecotourism, Makassar, Indonesia

This paper analyzes the historical transformation of the Lantebung mangrove (Bira village, Makassar) from a degraded conservation area into a community-oriented ecotourism destination. It evaluates the ecological, socioeconomic, and governance challenges for long-term sustainability. Using a mixed historical approach — archival and media review (regional newspapers, government plans), stakeholder interviews, structured site observations and secondary ecological datasets — we document (1) drivers of degradation (1970s–2000s), (2) revitalization steps since 2016 (community initiatives, NGO and CSR support), and (3) current barriers to sustainability, including habitat disturbance, waste management, limited infrastructure and weak institutional coordination. We frame findings using ecosystem services and community-based management literature to show how locally driven tourism provisioning provides income and conservation awareness while simultaneously exposing the site to overuse and governance gaps. We propose a comanaged governance model (community + municipal government + private partners) and a monitoring framework incorporating carrying capacity limits, participatory monitoring of restoration success, and simple blue-carbon accounting as priority actions. This paper contributes empirical evidence from an urban mangrove context and offers policy-relevant recommendations for city governments seeking to reconcile mangrove conservation and inclusive local development.