Coral reef condition on community based marine protected area in Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

The study was carried out in 39 Marine Protected Areas within the Province of Southeast Sulawesi, Eastern Indonesia. In particular, the research would look at community participation in creating marine protected area (MPA) to preserve healthy fisheries around coral reef locations. To clarify coral reef condition in the marine protected areas, survey and monitoring of coral reefs were conducted in all stations of this region. From 2007, local people in this region have started to create marine protected areas using community participation in their village. At the village level, MPAs were created through community participation. In 2007, my research on MPA in eastern Indonesia showed that 30.16% of live coral, 40% of dead coral, 17.23% of other fauna, 10.46% of abiotic substances (sands and stones), and 2.15% of macro algae covered the entire coral reef observed region. While in 2008, the of live coral increased to 33.3%, dead coral decreased to 36%, other fauna have reached 6.6%, abiotic (sands and stones) have turned into 19.5% and macro algae increased to 4.9%. These figures describe that within 1 year, community involvement through this program has successfully increased live coral by 3.14%, decreased dead coral by 4%, decreased other fauna by 10.6%, increased abiotic substances (sands and stones) by 9% and increased macro algae by 2.8%. Most of the coral fishes, particularly those of target fish group (economic fish) increased during 2007-2009. In order to optimize an understanding and pursuance of marine protected area to entire population, village regulations were formulated during community workshop conducted in 2007, aimed to support effective implementation of marine protected areas. This process was facilitated by Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program Phase II (COREMAP II) of the World Bank. Community marine protected areas provide the best protection for species of coral reef, fish and wildlife. This approach has created a method through which the capacity of local community is improved, as they can often serve as the best managers and supervisor to ensure the protection of these areas from overfishing, bombing and cyanides. This is one of the most successful strategies for marine conservation in Indonesia.