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

by Rumsram Foundation

What's at Stake?

The Padaido Islands, Irian Jaya are the site of some of the world's most intact and biologically diverse coral reef systems. The reefs harbor 95 coral species, 155 fish species, and other marine resources which provide both food and income to the people who live there. Destructive fishing practices employ explosives and cyanide to make it easier to scoop up dwindling fish stocks. These unsustainable activities are crumbling the reef ecosystems and threatening the future of coastal communities.

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 ecosystem venture that will attract benefits from tourists who want to see the wonders of healthy coral reefs. Rumsram has built one homestay on the Padaido Islands and has, with assistance from UNDP, established a functioning community based credit union. Currently most of the tourism in the area is mega-scale institutional style and excludes the participation of local communities. By contrast, the project is creating a community owned and operated dive tourism agency that will offer shares to the local community members. 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 and we hope 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 sustainable use.

	1997 Update
Successes and Challenges
"OK...So What?"

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