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Chapter 1 – Executive Summary 1.3 Results Detailed presentation of findings from the individual components of the REA is contained within the chapters that follow. The key findings of the research in each component is as follows: 1.3.1 Socio-economic Conditions Soon after the completion of the REA, the administrative structure of Raja Ampat changed significantly. The central government of Indonesia is in the process of devolving power to the regions. In so doing, fourteen new Regencies (Kabupatens) have been created in Papua, including Kabupaten Raja Ampat, whose Regency seat will be located at Waisai on Waigeo Island. The new government will be required to implement certain basic activities, including mapping of land-use plans for the area. This offers a unique opportunity to assist the new administration to include conservation in its development planning. Speakers of indigenous Raja Ampat languages number just 10% of the population. Descendent communities of migrants from Ceram, Biak and elsewhere – known collectively as old migrants – also claim access rights, beyond subsistence use, to customarily held resources. In general, old migrant communities tend to be more integrated into the cash economy and are, consequently, more market oriented. The majority of the population of Raja Ampat, however, live within subsistence economies, supplemented when possible by small-scale trade in marine invertebrates. Growing cash dependence, in combination with increased prices of basic commodities and a decline in the price of copra, severely impact villager’s livelihood. This has caused an increase in the dependence on marine resources as a commercial commodity, which has prompted some to adopt illegal fishing practices, including the use of explosives and cyanide, in order to meet cash needs. In some cases, village leadership has sold access to forestry resources in designated conservation areas that fall within areas of customary ownership as a means of easing the cash burden. Claim to traditional ownership of resources and adherence to custom law is relatively strong among villagers. However, the archipelago is a very large and sparsely populated area. Consequently, vigilance against resource exploitation from non-residents is limited. The prevalence of destructive fishing, practiced primarily by outsiders and often endorsed by figures of authority, leave villagers feeling powerless to act in the face of depletion of their natural capital. Some young people feel disenfranchised by outsiders exploiting customarily held marine resources and so choose to participate in destructive fishing activities because they see no alternative. However, whilst there exists some erosion of regard for customary resource management, traditional councils and church and youth groups provide useful vehicles for implementing some conservation initiatives at the community level. The establishment of Kabupaten Raja Ampat is an opportunity for government to develop social services and infrastructure in remote communities that were not apparent under the wider governance of Sorong. Opportunity exists to integrate long-term conservation planning into this process and to focus administrative and enforcement capacity to deliver sustainable community development that does not deplete the natural resources that underpin the way of life enjoyed by village communities. 1.3.2 Coral Reef Fishes The Raja Ampat islands have one of the world’s richest coral reef fish faunas, consisting of at least 1,074 species of which 899 (84%) were observed or collected during the present survey. Allen (2002) previously reported 970 species from this area. The present REA resulted in 104 new records for the Raja Ampats, including four new records for Indonesia. This is the third highest count for any similar-sized location, being surpassed only by Milne Bay Province, PNG (1,109 species) and Maumere Bay, Flores, Indonesia (1,111 species). However, the Milne Bay and Maumere data is based on long-term surveys, featuring more intense 14
Chapter 1 – Executive Summary collecting activity. The Raja Ampat total is the world’s highest for a survey based mainly on visual observations. The dominant fish families of the Raja Ampat islands are typically well represented on coral reefs throughout the vast Indo-west and central Pacific region. The most speciose families are gobies (Gobiidae; 137 species), damselfishes (Pomacentridae; 114 species), wrasses (Labridae; 109 species), cardinalfishes (Apogonidae; 73 species), groupers (Serranidae; 58 species), butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae; 40 species), blennies (Blenniidae; 35 species), surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae; 34 species), snappers (Lutjanidae; 32 species), and parrotfishes (Scaridae: 28 species). These 10 families collectively account for 660 species or 62.5 percent of the total reef fauna. Regression statistics based on the number of species in the families Chaetodontidae, Pomacanthidae, Pomacentridae, Labridae, Scaridae, and Acanthuridae indicates that the total projected reef fish fauna of the Raja Ampat islands consists of approximately 1,149 species. Therefore, at least another 75, mainly cryptic species could be expected from the area. Four of the six richest sites were located at Kofiau. Moreover, the highest count recorded by Gerry Allen for a single dive, 284 species, was obtained at Wambong Bay. The previous high of 283 species was recorded during the CI Raja Ampat RAP survey in 2001 at Kri Island. A total of 200 or more species is generally considered as the benchmark for an excellent fish count at a given site. This figure was obtained at 50 percent of Raja Ampat sites, the highest percentage for any area that has been previously surveyed in the “Coral Triangle.” 1.3.3 Coral Diversity and the Status of Coral Reefs Raja Ampat is known to have the highest diversity of hard corals for an area of similar size anywhere in the world. The archipelago is expected to harbor over 75% of worlds known coral species. A total of 488 scleractinian corals were identified during this REA. In addition, at least a further 35 species are awaiting identification in consultation with reference collections. Of these, 13 are expected to be new to science. This compares to 445 species in North Sulawesi, 379 species in Milne Bay and 347 in Kimbe Bay, PNG. Including a similar survey in 2001, this brings the total number of species confirmed for Raja Ampat to at least 537 scleractinian species of coral. Soft coral diversity was also very high. At least 41 of the 90 Alcyonacean genera known worldwide were recorded. Overall, reefs and coral communities in the Raja Ampat area were in very good health. Coral cover was moderate at about 33%. However, reefs did not appear to be suffering from any recent serious detrimental effects. There was no obvious evidence of the bleaching events that caused extensive mortality to reefs in the region in 1998. No evidence of current or recent crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks or other coralivorous impacts. There was very little sediment and pollution impact. Raja Ampat had many unusual coral habitat and coral community types. This was particularly apparent around Misool Island and Wayag Island. Many reefs did not show known or predictable zonation of coral communities. In addition, vertical (depth related) distribution of many coral species was different than what would be expected. Community types also did not demonstrate strong geographic separation. However, water movement, clarity and exposure appears to play a much stronger role in determining community types. Raja Ampat has high hard coral richness because of its regional position near the center of the ‘coral triangle’. It contains high diversity of habitat types, both typical and atypical, and a large variety of coastal and bathymetric profiles. The relatively unspoiled aspect of the reefs in this area helps maintain its high diversity. However, development and an increase of exploitation by human activities in the area would threaten this situation. Many of the reefs of Raja Ampat appear to have high resilience. Reef complexes around Misool and Kofiau in the southern region demonstrated high survival from the 1998 bleaching event and support strong 15
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