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

by Rumsram Foundation

Partners:

Rumsram Foundation Hualopu Foundation IDRC Canadian University Service Organization (CUSO)

Success Stories

A group of Saba villagers deserve awards for their courageous defense of their coral reef -- but some scientists may not agree. In the past year, Yayasan Hualopu's biological monitoring team has held training workshops in Saba to convey basic information on coral reef ecology and monitoring methods. Trainees have been enthusiastic, particularly since they have learned that of all the project sites, Saba has the most intact reef and the largest numbers of butterfly fish, an indicator of rich biodiversity. They have learned how to estimate percentage of living coral cover and now regularly practice their snorkeling and observation skills.

In September of this year, the group was shocked to discover that some scientists had, without prior consultation, laid down a permanent monitoring transect on Saba reef. The transect markers, unfortunately, consisted of 68 heavy concrete blocks linked together by nylon line and balanced, in some cases precariously, along the very edge of the wave-exposed reef slope. Village observers noted that 54 of the blocks rested on top of living corals and a few had already started their destructive descent down the living reef slope. Recognizing the threat to the reef, and fearing what would happen once the windy season started, the villagers removed the blocks. They worked from a tiny perahu and used their bare hands and simple snorkeling equipment -- a dangerous exercise!

Challenges

Compared to last year, when the project was literally swept away by an earthquake and tsunami, this year has been very calm. However, there are always new challenges. One, ironically enough, is how to deal with scientists who, in their own attempts to conserve biodiversity, employ methods that are unacceptable to local communities.

The second serious challenge is also being dealt with in Saba, where a new luxury hotel in the neighborhood wants to appropriate Saba reef as the site for a marina. Saba village is actively resisting this move.

The third area of general concern is the designation of the Padaidos as a site for a national tourism park. What does this mean for local community-controlled tourism developments? Will they be swamped by luxury resorts? What will it mean for the traditional access and withdrawal rights of small-scale fishers? Will the tourism developers who will be attracted to the area respect the communities' traditional tenure of small, unpopulated islands such as Dawi and Nukori? So far, there has been too little information forthcoming to be able to assess whether this will be a benefit or a disaster from the perspective of the project.

	"OK...So What?"
... or, return to this Project's Main Menu

WHY BIODIVERSITY   FIELD STORIES   PARTICIPATE   RESULTS   MARKETSPACE ABOUT THE NETWORK   WHAT'S NEW   LEARNING MATERIALS   SEARCH   LINKS   SITE MAP   HOME