NEW ZONING SYSTEM FOR WAKATOBI NP: Ensuring Economic Sustainability and Biodiversity Protection
Jakarta, July 23, 2007 – The Director General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation of the Ministry of Forestry (PHKA-Dephut) and the Head of the Wakatobi District formally signed the Wakatobi National Park’s Zoning System, which took place at the DG-PHKA’s office in Manggala Wanabakti, Jakarta. This National Park zoning system is the first in Indonesia to be jointly agreed upon by the central government, the local government and the local communities. The zoning system was formulated through a public consultation process that has involved numerous stakeholders; including community groups and specifically users of Wakatobi’s marine resources.
With such a strong commitment, it is believed that the Park’s new zoning
system will ensure the conservation of natural resources as well as
sustain the public’s economic well-being and the district’s economic
development. The zoning system comprises of the core zone, the marine
zone and tourism zone, covering 36% of the total conservation targets.
The other zones cover traditional use zone, general use zone and special
zone for the protection of terrestrial biodiversity.
“Our vision is to transform Wakatobi into an underwater paradise in the center of the world coral triangle. We are aware that conservation is very important because our economy is much dependant on local natural resources,” said the Head of Wakatobi District, Hugua.
The zoning system is an integral part of Wakatobi District’s Spatial Plan. The District Government has also completed its development vision which puts forward two key sectors; tourism and fisheries.
”We have started developing infrastructure that will support tourism, including an airport on Wangi-Wangi island. This airport will be operational by the end of 2007 or at the latest by early 2008. The airport will make Wakatobi more accessible to those wishing to visit the area, especially to tourists. Meanwhile in the fisheries sector, the District Government is shifting from reef fisheries to pelagic oceanic fisheries and marine culture,” further explained Hugua.
The Wakatobi National Park Authority, in the meantime, will immediately conduct socialization sessions on the new zoning system to various stakeholders, including local communities and the fisheries sector, as well as put in place signage buoys that signify the zoning boundaries, specifically for the no-take zones.
Wahju Rudianto, the Head of the Wakatobi National Park, said, “This socialization program will be conducted for one year so that all stakeholders clearly understand the zoning boundaries and understand their role in conserving the Park’s natural resources. The Park Authority will also implement the model village program, which will entail providing assistance for the village’s economic development in line with conservation principles. To date feasibility studies have been conducted in two villages; Sampela and Runduma.”
The District Government is also urged to draft new fisheries regulations that will regulate fishing grounds and the types of allowable fishing gears, as well as district regulations pertaining to user and entrance fees.
“The National Park Authority and District Government is an example in cooperation for protected area management. Economic and conservation interests very often pitted against each other can be complementary to one another,” said Arman Mallolongan, the DG of PHKA. “Synergic efforts are needed from all stakeholders in this collaborate management, for the people’s welfare and biodiversity protection,” he added.
The formulation of the zoning system began since 2003 with a biodiversity survey conducted by the Wakatobi National Park in cooperation with the WWF-The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Joint Program.
Socialization of the national park and sustainable fisheries management program started in 2004, also resulting in the establishment of a stakeholders’ forum. Data collected was processed using MARXAN and the results were consulted to stakeholders at the local and national levels.
Notes to the Editor:
- The Wakatobi zoning system comprises of:
o Core zone: no-take and no-go zone
o Marine zone: no-take; entry allowed
o Tourism zone: no-take, allowed only for tourism activities
o Traditional use zone: reefs and marine areas to be used only by local communities
o General use zone: other marine areas dedicated for pelagic oceanic fisheries
o Special zone: land mass of uninhabited islands that will be developed as protected areas to ensure terrestrial biodiversity, and inhabited islands with infrastructure built before the area was established as a national park. Specific regulations will be formulated by the Wakatobi District Government.
- MARXAN is a GIS-based software developed to help in the planning process of marine protected areas based on biodiversity and coastal socio-economic parameters.
Previous release:
• Berau Declares the Establishment of a Marine Protected Area • Conservation Practitioners Take Part in Seminars on the Planning and Management of Marine Protected Areas