Rapid Ecological Assessment - Indo-Pacific Images

Chapter 2 - Socio-Economic Conditions in the Raja Ampat Islands
other passive, non-extractive sources of income are developed, the government might feel compelled to
exploit marine and forestry resources in a manner that cannot be sustained.
Any conservation initiative in Raja Ampat must provide local communities with income generating
alternatives that satisfy the immediate needs to purchase goods and services that cannot be fulfilled from
their subsistence way of living. Conservation organisations must work closely with the new administration
and customary resource owners to ensure access entitlements are agreed upon and duly observed. The new
government must also strengthen law enforcement, given the relative freedom with which people from
outside Raja Ampat can exploit resources within the archipelago using illegal and destructive methods.
2.14 What Can Be Done to Help the People and Government of Raja Ampat?
Within a five-year time frame, it is proposed that the following practical initiatives be addressed:
• Public education concerning the various socio-economic and environmental issues in Raja Ampat: Whilst
the archipelago is well known among marine scientists, it is still an unknown area for many, including the
people of Indonesia. The majority of published material, including web-based material, is available only
in English. Consequently, its role to educate the people of Indonesia is limited. More articles about Raja
Ampat should be published in the popular media in Indonesia.
• A workshop on the development and conservation of Raja Ampat should be conducted: Workshops are a
valuable tool that allows people from the different sections of society to discuss relevant issues in a forum
of open discussion. The present REA revealed that there has never been an opportunity for the people of
Raja Ampat to sit down with the private sector, government agencies and conservation organisations to
understand the socio-economic and environmental dynamics of Raja Ampat and to actively participate in
the identification and agreement of steps to be taken so that a win-win situation can be achieved.
• Combined efforts of conservation and research institutions should be in place in Raja Ampat: Creation of
the Raja Ampat Regency should be seen by conservation organisations and research institutions as an
opportunity to intensify their efforts in Raja Ampat and to be actively involved in collaborative and
holistic planning with the new administration and resource owners. The establishment of research and
community outreach facilities in the new capital, Waisai, is proposed. The purpose of the facility is to
create a permanent outlet in close proximity to the Bupati and the new parliament that integrates the
conservation and research effort and application from such bodies as The Nature Conservancy (TNC),
World Wide fund for Nature (WWF), Conservation International (CI), The Indonesian Science Institute
(LIPI), The State University of Papua (UNIPA), The Cenderawasih University (Uncen), the Nature
Conservation Bureau of the Department of Forestry (PHPA), and the Research Institute of the Department
of Forestry (Litbang Kehutanan), etc.
2.15 Areas Likely to Achieve Greatest Conservation Success
There are significant areas in Raja Ampat that have already been declared as protected areas and there are
plans to promote certain areas, such as Kofiau and Wayag, to World Heritage status. Any of the protected
areas in Raja Ampat has the potential for the successful implementation of a conservation program, provided
the conditions proposed above can be implemented.
2.16 References
Aguilar-Perera, A. & Aguilar-Dávila, W., 1996. A spawning aggregation of Nassau grouper Epinephelus
striatus (Pisces, Serranidae) in the Mexican Caribbean. Environmental Biology of Fishes 45(4): 351-
361.
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