[Kabar-indonesia] Berau regency goes extra mile on environment [+Derawan Islands]

[Joyo at aol.com]

also: Green turtles of the Derawan Islands; and 
Balance between conservation and exploitation

The Jakarta Post 
Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Berau regency goes extra mile on environment

Located on the coastal shelf of East Kalimantan in the Sulawesi Sea, the 
Derawan islands are known as one of the most biodiversity-rich hotspots in the 
world.

However, a variety of manmade threats endanger its beauty. The Berau 
administration has declared its total area of 1.27 million hectares a marine 
conservancy region. It hopes to slow down the rate of environmental destruction.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) marine 
joint program invited a number of journalists, including The Jakarta Post's 
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, to visit the area in June to observe current progress.

Who could resist the temptation to cuddle elegant manta rays and dolphins or 
swim with sea turtles, whales and sharks in the pristine water of Derawan 
islands located in the Sulawesi Sea, on the coastal shelf of East Kalimantan?

If that does not sound tempting to you, how about embracing hundreds of rare, 
stingless jellyfish in a brackish lake in an atoll that developed after many 
hundreds of years of evolution?

Only a few people could defy the call. My colleague who went on a recent tour 
to the Derawan islands organized by TNC jumped into the water shortly after 
we arrived there.

Apparently he had forgotten he is water-phobic and unable to swim!

Located in the global biodiversity hotspot, the Derawan islands marine region 
is home to 872 species of reef fish, 507 coral, eight species of sea grass, a 
number of sea mammals and invertebrates such as sea turtles and the coconut 
crab.

Occupying a total 1.27 million hectares of maritime territory, it lies within 
the jurisdiction of the Berau administration. It consists of 31 islands, 
including Derawan itself.

The Derawan islands have made their name abroad for their breathtaking 
underwater scenery, which attracts divers from around the globe.

Although one can easily spot colorful fish from the water surface, this does 
not mean that living conditions there are perfect.

If you snorkle or dive, you will notice deserted spots amid colorful coral. 
Here and there you will come across pale, bleached coral due to destructive 
fishing practices and pollution.

Indeed, the Derawan islands suffer some of the classical problems 
attributable to mankind's destructive side, including overexploitation, destructive 
fishing using cyanide and explosives, plus increased sedimentation caused by the 
intensity of logging activities.

Worse, locals have heavily exploited turtle eggs in the largest green turtle 
nesting site in Indonesia.

It is fortunate that many parties, including high-profile, international, 
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), have offered to do what they can to 
conserve the environment of the Derawan islands marine region.

TNC-Indonesia and WWF-Indonesia, which have collaborated on the TNC-WWF 
maritime joint program in Derawan islands, and other groups, including local NGO 
Bestari, have been working on conservation of the Derawan islands. The area has 
been proposed by the Office of the State Minister of the Environment for 
listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

On top of that, Derawan islands is grateful to have a number of 
environmentally aware leaders. Initiated by former regent Masdjuni, Regent Makmur 
successfully convinced the regency legislative council to adopt a regulation declaring 
the whole Berau maritime region a marine conservation area last year.

It is hoped the regulation will slow down -- or even halt altogether -- 
destruction of the maritime region.

"The maritime area is our life. It must be protected," said Makmur, whose 
administration has become the first regency in the country to take such an 
initiative.

Masdjuni, Makmur and Derawan island subdistrict head Iramsyah have been given 
a Leaders for a Living Planet certificate by the TNC-WWF program for their 
involvement in preserving the marine environment.

Supported by the enthusiasm of the NGOs, the Berau administration has been 
promoting the move across the regency and the Derawan islands to seek support 
from local residents.

They, too, are currently drafting plans for management of the area.

Yaya Mulyana, the conservancy and marine national park director of the 
maritime and fisheries department, welcomed the initiative of the Berau 
administration.

"It sets a very good example for other regency administrations across the 
country to support the government to reach its target of establishing protected 
marine areas in Indonesia totaling 10 million hectares by 2010," he said.

The Derawan islands deserve protection from all parties, from the government 
to local fishermen. Located in one of the most remote areas of Kalimantan, 
they also deserve security protection from the central government.

They contain abundant natural resources. Despite the significant coral reefs, 
the Derawan islands are also home to Semama island, which serves as an 
important bird sanctuary.

In addition, Kakaban island contains the world's largest and most diverse 
jellyfish lake with its four unique species of stingless jellyfish.

Recent marine surveys by TNC and a team of international experts showed the 
area contains more than 460 different species of coral, giving it the world's 
second-highest level of hard coral diversity after the Raja Ampat Islands in 
Papua.

Whether or not the Berau administration's initiative is a success remains to 
be seen.

However, it is worthy of praise as all concerned parties are obliged to 
support it in a bid to save one of the last areas of underwater paradise on earth. 

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The Jakarta Post 
Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Green turtles of the Derawan Islands

The Berau administration in East Kalimantan uses it as its symbol despite the 
rich diversity of sea creatures and coral reefs in the Derawan islands.

The sea turtle, particularly the green turtle, is the star of the islands. 
You can easily spot a sea turtle swimming in the clear water in daylight. If you 
jump into the water, the chances are you will be swimming with several of 
them.

The Derawan islands have served as a nesting and feeding area for an 
abundance of sea turtles, particularly green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill 
turtles (Erethmochelys imbricata).

The green turtle was once common in the warm oceans of the world, but has 
become increasingly scarce in areas where it is commercially exploited.

As a gentle vegetarian, the species feed mainly on sea grasses and algae that 
are widely available in the Derawan sea.

The hard-shelled marine turtles can weigh 150 kilograms and reach over 100 
centimeters in length while their hatchlings are a mere five centimeters long.

Elegant and tenacious swimmers, they are believed to live up to 100 years.

Just like other sea turtles, green turtles have an incredible sense of 
direction. However, they need to expend a lot of energy when on land.

Only female turtles have to do that. When 10 to 20 years old, the female 
turtles return to the sandy beaches where they were born to lay their eggs there.

A female can be fertilized by several males. Thereafter, the female comes 
ashore about three to five times within a period of 10 to 15 days to build a nest 
and lay about 100 eggs each time.

If lucky, you could observe turtles laying their eggs either on Derawan or 
Sangalaki islands. On the latter, about 20 female turtles lay their eggs there 
daily. Nonetheless, this adds up to a large quantity.

They usually lay their eggs at night to avoid the heat. After dragging 
themselves across the beach to find a suitable spot, a turtle will dig a hollow in 
the sand using its flippers.

They cover the hollow after laying their eggs and make a fake hollow to 
deceive predators, before returning to the sea. The process can take hours.

Green sea turtles can swim over 1,000 kilometers and cross oceans to reach 
their place of birth-cum-nesting site.

The hatchlings rise to the surface after about 60 days. Soon after they 
emerge on the beach, they encounter the most dangerous period of their lives.

They have to run the gauntlet of crabs, birds, octopuses and large fish. They 
are also prone to starvation or illness. Only about one or two of 1,000 
hatchlings survive and grow into adult turtles.

However, once fully grown only two enemies are left: sharks and humans.

Local fishermen in the Derawan islands do not catch the turtles for their 
meat, skin or calipee (part of the shell used in traditional medicine). However, 
they do harvest their eggs. An egg could fetch Rp 3,500 to Rp 5,000.

The Berau administration has now banned egg sales. A number of 
non-governmental organizations have also united to set up a joint program to protect the 
turtles.

All sea turtles are listed in Appendix 1 of CITES (the Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), an international 
agreement between governments.

Appendix I lists species that are the most endangered of CITES-listed animals 
and plants.

Green sea turtles are listed as threatened or endangered throughout their 
habitat.

(Muninggar Sri Saraswati) 

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The Jakarta Post 
Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Balance between conservation and exploitation

Some say it is an arcane matter. However, the "nature conservancy versus 
people's welfare" issue remains relevant to others.

During a discussion about the management of the Derawan islands recently, a 
participant posed a question.

"Would you sacrifice the welfare of poor fishermen for the sake of marine 
conservancy?" Berau Regent Makmur was asked.

The regency declared the marine areas of Berau, totaling 1.27 million 
hectares, and equal to about four times the marine territory of Norway, a marine 
conservation area in 2005.

The administration and a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have 
been working for months for the establishment of marine management to enforce 
the status, as they expect to start implementing it later this year.

The question above, therefore, is relevant due to possible restrictions in 
some parts of the marine region on fishing.

Most fishermen in the Derawan islands, just like their colleagues across the 
archipelagic country, live a relatively impoverished existence. They have been 
complaining about declining fish catches, most likely due to the damaged 
environment of the marine region.

Fishing is a more costly activity nowadays, particularly since an increase in 
fuel prices last year.

"If we have to go further out to sea we need to spend more on fuel. So much 
the better if we catch a lot of fish as that will cover our expenses. 
Otherwise, we get nothing," said a fisherman, who lives in the Derawan islands.

Matheus H. Halim, who leads the WWF-TNC marine joint program, explained that 
the imposition of the marine conservancy region would boost the supply of fish.

"At the end, the fishermen are hoping to net more fish," he said.

The Berau administration and non-governmental organizations are considering a 
division of the total 1.27 million hectares into several parts.

Some would serve as restricted areas, aiming at protecting the fish to breed 
and giving time for the eggs and the fish to grow. Others would be open to 
fishing.

"Sea currents would also bring the roe from the protected areas into the open 
areas, allowing them to develop there. Fishermen would get more benefit 
because they could catch greater quantities of larger fish," Halim said.

The NGOs have also attempted to provide some 24,000 fishermen, their families 
and other residents of the islands wider alternatives to fishing since the 
Berau administration plans to establish ecotourism in the Derawan islands.

Berau administration hopes to boost its regional revenue by US$2 million from 
ecotourism and fishing after the imposition of marine protection regulations.

The program has also been assisting some people living in the islands with 
craft skills. An artist from Bali was invited to train them in making souvenirs 
such as turtle figurines as an alternative to using turtle shells.

Bestari (an acronym meaning "preserving Berau"), a local NGO, has also been 
assisting locals in preparing for the possible establishment of ecotourism in 
the islands.

Bestari director Juhriansyah explained that his NGO has been supporting 
locals for two years to start their own tourism businesses.

"We've starting with preparing a village plan. We are also supporting them to 
build lodges or small lunchrooms for budget divers," he said.

The Derawan islands are well-known with international divers for their 
marvelous marine and coral reefs. A number of diving lodges and resorts have been 
established there, all of which are owned by Malaysian companies.

However, it takes time to complete the training of locals, most of whom are 
not well informed due to the remoteness of where they live. It is very 
difficult to obtain newspapers there, or to receive radio and TV programs.

Juhriansyah said that their initiative had yet to succeed.

"It will likely take more than a year to prepare them," he said, based on his 
NGO's experience thus far.

Obviously, the Berau administration and the NGOs must take this into account. 
Deploying a security approach to guard the preserved marine areas without 
raising the awareness of fishermen would be meaningless: The deterrent effect 
would not last long.

Berau's maritime area is vast. It takes a lot of resources to guard it. The 
Berau administration has secured approval from the Forestry Ministry and the 
maritime department to back up the security measures.

However, both are known for their limited ability and resources to protect 
the huge maritime area of Indonesia. Located on the border of Malaysia and the 
Philippines, the maritime area in Berau is just one of many in the country.

In addition, traditional fishermen in the Derawan islands are not the only 
possible "threat" to marine conservation as they sometimes deploy destructive 
fishing techniques like using explosives.

However, that does not happen often and the number of fishermen deploying it 
continues to decline.

Foreign fishermen, with modern equipment and vessels, are often caught in the 
act of poaching fish and protected turtles by the Navy.

It is sensible to involve local fishermen in protecting their own sea. The 
sense of belonging among them would serve as the best protection for endangered 
marine life.

As Regent Makmur puts it: "I want the locals to lead the initiative. The 
administration and the NGOs are involved in a support capacity only. I believe 
they can boost their welfare through appropriate conservation measures."

(Muninggar Sri Saraswati) 

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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