Dive Tourism off the Reefs of the Padaido Islands, Irian Jaya, Indonesia

by Rumsram Foundation

Project Overview

Eastern Indonesia has some of the highest marine diversity in the world. The Padaido Islands, Irian Jaya are the site of some of the world's most intact and biologically diverse coral reef systems, harboring 95 coral species and 155 fish species, and other marine resources which offer both non-cash and commercial value to the area's inhabitants. Many of the coral reefs found in and around the Padaido Islands near Biak, however, are threatened by unsustainable levels of resource exploitation and destructive fishing techniques including especially the use of cyanide and explosives.

Yayasan Rumsram (based in Biak, Irian Jaya) and Yayasan Hualopu (based in Ambon, Maluku) are addressing these threats by working with local communities to establish a community-based marine ecotourism venture in the Padaido Islands and, at the same time, introducing alternative, sustainable methods of harvesting the marine resources in the area. Rumsram has already built one homestay on the Padaido Islands and has, with assistance from UNDP, established a functioning community-based savings mechanism. The project is also creating a community owned and operated dive tourism agency that will offer shares to local community members. Currently, most of the tourism in the area is larger scale tourism that excludes participation of local communities. The travel agency will initially be owned by Rumsram and the cooperatives in the three target villages. The stakeholders will be represented by a Board of Directors. It is expected that the benefits from the dive tourism packages, combined with necessary training in business management and alternative harvesting techniques, will create local incentives for long-term resource management and exploitation.

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