Rapid Ecological Assessment - Indo-Pacific Images

Chapter 1 – Executive Summary
• S.M.L. – P. Kofiau – 7,197ha Srt. No.375/PPA.030/XII/SBKSDA IRJA I/1992, 21st Dec 1992.
• S.M.L. – P. Asia – 7,000ha Srt. No.151/PPA.030/IV/SBKSDA IRJA I/92 16th Apr 1992.
• S.M.L. – P. Sayang – 96,000ha Srt. No.1308/PPA.030/VII/SBKSDA IRJA I/1992, 20th Jul 1992.
• S.M.L. – Kepulauan Ajue – 168,630ha Rek. Bupati No.050/110, 19th Jan 1994.
1.5 Conservation Recommendations and Follow-up
This extraordinary area clearly is the heart of the heart of marine biodiversity, with approximately 60% of
the world’s reef building corals (more than 500 identified species) and at least 1,074 species of fishes.
Conservation of marine biodiversity in the area is an overriding priority and of major interest to the global
community. Four areas of over-riding conservation value and opportunity were identified: the islands of
eastern and southern Misool, Kofiau, Sayang and Pulau Ai, and the Wayag islands. While the forests provide
no equivalent, compelling argument for conservation based on species richness, they show many elements of
special adaptation to the harsh karst and ultrabasic conditions of the islands and consequently harbour a
number of endemic species. Further surveys reaching the montane forests will likely yield additional new
and endemic species. The four general areas of priority for marine conservation also corresponded to areas of
interest for karst forests and it was indicated that conservation areas should be selected on the basis of marine
criteria, and then extended to include adjacent forests to capture representative samples of their special
features. However, any conservation strategy for the Raja Ampat islands must include sustainable
community development options.
A first step in implementing a conservation program was to organize a workshop to disseminate results of
this survey. This workshop, held in Saonek (South Waigeo) on August 20-21 2003, would also be
instrumental to initiate partnerships and to consult with local communities and local government agencies.
Results of the workshop are presented in Chapter 7. Other suggested conservation actions are summarized in
Appendix 10.
1.6 References
Allen, G.R., 2002. Chapter 3. Reef Fishes of the Raja Ampat Islands, Papua Province, Indonesia. In: S.A.
McKenna, G.R. Allen and S. Suryadi (eds.) A marine rapid assessment of the Raja Ampat Islands,
Papua Province, Indonesia. (RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 22. Conservation International,
Washington, DC: 46-57 and 132-185.
Erdmann, M.V. and Pet, J., 2002. A Rapid Marine Survey of the Northern Raja Ampat Islands. Henry
Foundation/The Nature Conservancy/NRM/EPIQ June 2002.
Jennings, S. and Lock, J.M., 1996. Population and ecosystem effects of reef fishing. In: N. Polunin and C.
Roberts (eds) Reef Fisheries Management. Chapman and Hall, London.
Sadovy, Y.J., 2002. The Humphead wrasse: a threatened reef fish. SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin
10: 6.
Sorondanya, C.K., 2003. (comm.BKSDA Papua II, 2003)
Zeller, D.C., 1998. Spawning aggregation – patterns of movement of the coral trout Plectropomus leopardus
(Serranidae) as determined by ultrasonic telemetry. Marine Ecology Progress Series 162: 253-263.
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