Siting and Design of Hotels and Resorts: Principles - IUCN

Principle 4 Case Study
Misool Ecoresort, Indonesia
Securing community engagement in development and
marine conservation
Development of a resort and No-Take
Zone based on extensive consultation and
engagement with the local community,
respecting local rights and traditions
and benefitting local livelihoods through
involvement with the tourism operation.
Misool Eco Resort (MER) is located on the island of
Batbitim, within the Raja Ampat group of islands that
lie off the western coast of Papua, the Indonesian
half of the island of New Guinea. Lying at the heart
of what is known as the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat
has abundant coral reefs, home to more than 700
species of molluscs and 1,397 species of fish.
Batbitim offers some of the best and most pristine
diving in Raja Ampat.
MER seeks to provide exceptional and enriching
diving experiences in a sustainable environment. The
first eight guest cottages were opened in 2008, and
three deluxe villas have since been added.
MER started out as the vision of one man and is now
owned by its shareholders, a dedicated group of
divers and conservationists. In 2005, MER entered
into a 25-year lease agreement with members of the
local community for exclusive rights to Batbitim and
Jef Galyu Islands, including hills, forests, coconut
trees, water, animals and the surrounding lagoon.
An integral part of the lease was the designation
of approximately 200km 2 of surrounding sea as a
Marine Protected Area (MPA) and No-Take Zone
(NTZ), in order to conserve the marine environment
and also its interest for divers.
The need to involve the local community was
recognised as critical to the whole project, not only
in securing the lease but also in ensuring their broad
consent and support for the resort and the MPA/
NTZ, so that it could be effectively secured and
sustained. This required careful communication with
the local community, based on understanding and
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Name of hotel/resort Misool Eco Resort
Scale 11 villas/cottages
Date of development 2006-8
Location Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia
The area context The remote southern part of the
Raja Ampat islands, an area rich in
reefs and dive sites
respect, and the provision of alternative livelihoods
through the resort.
Determining ownership rights and negotiating the
lease
The lease agreement between the community and
MER was founded on principles supported by
Papuan law or Hak Adat, which is recognized and
formalized under Indonesian law. Under Papuan law,
people can own not just islands but the beaches,
reefs and waters that surround them. This gives local
community owners the opportunity to assign a lease
that includes rights to the marine as well as terrestrial
environment.
An important first step was to fully clarify the existing
ownership rights, in order to minimise the risk of
disputes at a later date. A local Adat committee
had to confirm the rightful owners of the area.
To gain an in-depth understanding, MER went to
great lengths to meet with local administrators and
community leaders. The ability to speak proficient
Bahasa Indonesia proved essential to getting to the
heart of their needs and concerns, as well as for
establishing mutual trust and respect. The owners
were identified as the village of Yellu, 22km to the
northwest of Batbitim. Local administrators facilitated
the first meeting with the village, and others followed.
Before the lease was signed, the Village Secretary
recommended a final meeting with the village to make
certain they were very clear that they would no longer
be able to fish in the NTZ.