SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-BASED MARINE CONSERVATION    PADAIDO ISLANDS, IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA

PARTNERS Hualopu Foundation Rumsram Foundation Canadian University Services Organization (CUSO) International Development Research Centre (IDRC) BCN GRANT $295,843 1 July 1996 through 31 December 1998
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & INCOME GENERATION The project seeks to establish a sustainable, community-owned and -operated tourism business by: Creating a for-profit, community-owned travel agency to promote and manage tour operations in the Padaido Islands, including diving, snorkeling, biking, and birding; Building basic, though comfortable, guest houses and providing other necessary services and amenities for visitors to Saba (on Biak Island), Pasi, Wundi and Dauwi islands; Working with affiliated cooperatives and savings systems to provide a market outlet for locally produced handicrafts, as well as small-scale loans for local community members. Though the travel bureau is not yet established, small numbers of divers/snorkelers have visited the Islands with Rumsram's assistance since at least 1993. Along with recent upgrades in facilities (e.g., new guest houses in Dauwi and Saba), transportation (e.g., two new boats) and collaboration with local villagers, the number of visitors has been slowly increasing. Projected 1997 (Dauwi only) # of Beneficiaries 1997 $13,750 100+ individuals (est.) MONITORING Biological and socioeconomic monitoring is being implemented with the assistance of local villagers. The primary aim is to measure and manage the impact of incoming tourists on the local ecology and village economy; The 3 monitoring sites, the physical area the project covers, and the number of people living at each location are: Site Total Area Managed Area Population Saba 30 km2 4 km2 652 Wundi 10 km2 4 km2 345 Pasi/Dauwi 8 km2 5 km2 369 Over 40 individuals have been trained in biological monitoring techniques, including fish catch counts, coral reef transects, and permanent photographic quadrats. Field staff were recently placed at each site to assist the communities in implementing the business and monitoring.	BIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE ISLANDS Marine: 95 coral and 155 fish species (e.g., reef sharks, grouper, octopii, sea grass beds). Terrestrial: 48 tree, 26 bird, 14 reptile and 7 mammal species. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY Unregulated, large-scale tourism planned for the area. Dynamite and cyanide fishing on the reefs. Use of small-mesh gill nets by local fishermen. Unsustainable, large-scale fishing by "outside" companies. CURRENT & POTENTIAL POLICY IMPACTS Local government recognition of and collaboration on community-based marine resource management. Community-led ban on the use of destructive fishing methods, including blast, cyanide and "crow-bar" fishing. Community enforcement to ensure the ban is implemented. Community-initiated promotion and use of more sustainable methods, including large-mesh gill nets, traditional spear fishing, and Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). Community involvement in establishing a government-initiated marine reserve covering part of the Islands chain. OTHER PROJECT FEATURES Saba, Wundi, Pasi, etc. are recovering, with Rumsram's and Hualopu's assistance, from a February 1995 earthquake and tidal wave that destroyed homes and damaged reefs. Land and marine tenure are central concerns, as Saba seeks to keep a nearby hotel from expropriating territory and creating a marina, and residents of Pasi, Dauwi etc. seek to be included in establishing the proposed marine reserve. Women comprise at least 50% of those trained in business development and management, English-language, etc. GETTING THERE After arriving in Biak: Saba is a 30 minute drive from Biak city. Excellent reefs are a short swim from shore. Wundi, Pasi and Dauwi are approximately 1-3 hour small-boat rides from Saba or Biak city, Dauwi being the most remote and having the most in tact reefs of the three.
CONTACT INFORMATION Hualopu Foundation, P.O. 1224, Ambon 97012, Indonesia; Fax 62-911-69-255; E-Mail: john@ambon.wasantara.net.id Rumsram Foundation, P.O. Box 211, Biak, Irian Jaya, Indonesia; Fax 62-981-21-825; E-Mail: Marien@jayapura.wasantara.net.id BCN (Jakarta Office): Jl. Madium No. 3, Menteng, Jakarta 10320, Indonesia; Phone/Fax: 62-21-392-6584; E-Mail bcordes@cbn.net.id

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