Establishing protected areas for sustainable marine tourism (Jakarta Post)

From: Jakarta Post

Establishing marine protected areas in Bali is a solution toward sustainable tourism and protecting the island from environmental degradation caused by rapid and largely uncoordinated development, experts said in a recent discussion.

“Establishing marine protected areas is a must, because it can provide significant social and economic benefits, and it will ensure better management of resources if we wish to achieve sustainability in the fishery and tourism sectors,” said Jamaluddin Jompa, a marine expert from Hasanuddin University.

Establishing a zoning system in the ocean, where certain parts are dedicated to conservation and no-fishing zones, while other parts are for tourism activities, would provide time for the ecosystem to recover from the degrading impact of coastal development, and would in turn contribute significantly to increasing the value of Bali’s marine tourism, he added.

The workshop was held as part of the environmental program during the five-day Nusa Dua Fiesta 2013.

Organized by Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) and Nusa Dua Reef Foundation, the workshop gathered policymakers, marine tourism businesses in Bali, NGOs concerned with marine issues, academics, as well as local representatives to exchange ideas and make a joint commitment to manage the island’s marine areas toward sustainable tourism.

I Gde Pitana, head of resource development at the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, said that conservation of natural resources was the key to building a tourism attraction.

“Green economy, green tourism and sustainable development are not an utopia. There have been many examples of countries that benefit a lot from tourism because they’re committed to preserving nature,” he said.

He hailed Pemuteran in Buleleng as the best practice of harmonizing marine conservation with tourism and local people’s livelihoods.

Bali’s rich marine resources have long been an important economic asset to the island, both as source of food security for local communities and as a focus of marine tourism.

Unfortunately, the rapid and largely uncoordinated development of Bali’s watersheds and coastal areas, along with a lack of clear marine spatial planning for the island, has led to significant deterioration of many marine environments around the island.

The deteriorating condition is due to a combination of overfishing and destructive fishing, sedimentation from coastal development, sewage and garbage disposal at sea and dredging channels, putting long-term sustainability of important economic activities occurring in Bali’s coastal zone in question.

Realizing these threats, the administration is now developing a comprehensive long-term development strategy for the island, including designing marine protected areas around the island that prioritize sustainable and compatible economic activities.

In the workshop, heads of the Maritime Affairs Agency from three regencies (Buleleng, Badung and Klungkung) presented their improvements to establishing marine protected areas.

Buleleng’s agency head, Nyoman Sutrisna, said the regency was now in the process of officially establishing its marine protected zones under a bylaw.

The regency is divided into three areas in terms of its marine potential supporting the locals’ livelihoods: west Buleleng, east Buleleng, and central Buleleng.

West Buleleng covers the area of Pemuteran, which is known for its community-based efforts in recovering its coral reefs.

“In east Buleleng, some areas that have been moving forward in marine conservation are Les village, as well as Bondalem, Tejakula and Penuktukan villages.

Les village is well known for its success in preserving ornamental fish, while the three other villages are popular for their coral reef conservation, and have become attractive spots for snorkeling and diving,” Sutrisna said.

Central Buleleng, which includes Lovina, has since 1987 been known for its dolphin attraction, where tourists can watch the dolphins swimming in the ocean. There are eight species of dolphin spotted in this area. This attraction is now being managed sustainably.

Gusti Ngurah Badiwangsa, head of Klungkung’s agency, presented that marine protected areas had been established in Nusa Penida through the implementation of a zoning system. The area is divided into seven zones, each of which has its own characteristics and functions: fishery, tourism, seaweed cultivation, a harbor and a sacred zone for religious rituals.

“After the zoning has been officially launched, we will work on funding mechanisms,” Badiwangsa said. He stated the area boasted a variety of marine potential, including 296 species of coral, 576 species of fish, with the iconic mola-mola and manta ray. The area now welcomes around 200,000 tourists per year.

Badung’s agency head, Made Badra, presented the regency’s potential in marine tourism, especially for surfing, diving, snorkeling and recreational water activities.

I Gusti Agung Prana, the initiator of coral reef conservation in Pemuteran, shared the experience of transforming Pemuteran from “environmental disaster” to “destination of choice” through rehabilitation of the coral reefs with a cultural and spiritual approach, and biorock technology.

“During the period of 2002 to this year, Pemuteran has been continuously developing and has a beautiful underwater garden that has been a selling point for tourism in Buleleng,” said Prana, who won the Equator Prize from the United Nations Development Program last year for his efforts.