Local Communities in Raja Ampat Embrace MPA Zoning Plan

Local Communities in Raja Ampat Embrace MPA Zoning Plan
By: Sangeeta Manghubai, TNC

On November 28, 2012, the customary leaders and local communities in Raja Ampat (West Papua Province, Indonesia) formalized their commitment to enhance management effectiveness of the Southeast Misool Marine Protected Area (MPA) by declaring their zoning system through the traditional ceremony Timai, in Yellu Village, Misool Island.

This action is reflection of strong grass roots support to Indonesia’s CTI National Plan of Action goal to achieve 20 million hectares of marine protected area coverage by 2020.  Ultimately, it supports the CTI Regional Plan of Action’s aim to bolster the management of MPAs within the Coral Triangle region.
The traditional declaration of the Southeast Misool MPA zoning is a huge mandate given by the people to the Raja Ampat government, to ensure that the marine resources in Misool are sustainably managed. The ceremony was also attended by the Unit Pelaksana Teknis Daerah Head and his staff, Tourism Agency, Police, Misool Eco Resort, Misool Baseftin, Yellu Mutiara, and the heads of sub-district, village and tribal elders. The head of the pearl farm Yellu Mutiara issued an ‘official holiday’ to enable staff to attend this important event. “We sent out 480 invitations (thinking many might not make it), and ended up with close to 1,000 people attending to give their support!!!” expressed the farm manager

The southeast Misool MPA covers an area of 366,000 hectares, and consists of a number of zones including: the core, no-take; community sasi and traditional use, sustainable fisheries and mariculture, and other use zones. The zoning system was developed through support from The Nature Conservancy over 4 years of continuous information gathering  on the condition of the reefs and fish populations, mapping patterns of marine resources uses  by local communities, acknowledging traditional management practices, scientific assessments, and many more stakeholder consultations.

The final zoning plan incorporates marine conservation agreements (between villages and Misool Eco Resort), and business agreements (between villages and the pearl farm Yellu Mutiara). Similar to other MPAs in Raja Ampat, the zoning system combines modern conservation science and traditional management practices (sasi) which are not commonly found in Indonesia. Similar to the Kofiau MPA, the zoning plan for Southeast Misool MPA is a unique example in the Coral Triangle of how to incorporate biodiversity, fisheries and climate change aspects into an MPA management plan.

The Timai ceremony pays respect to and offers prayers to the ancestors of local communities. The ceremony was led by customary leaders who showered offerings – made up of beetle nuts, tobacco and chicken – into the ocean, along with prayers for the protection of the oceans and continued abundance of the marine resources for people. After the ceremony, the head of local government agency recognized and endorsed 3 Community Patrol Groups and officially opened 3 patrol posts for each sub-district (Jaam Island, Gamfi, and Waaf). The patrol post on Waaf Island was built with funds from the Raja Ampat tourism entrance fee.

Photo Caption

Upper Right: Raja Ampat residents celebrate the signing of the MPA Zoning Plan Credit: TNC
Middle Right: Local government officers and community leaders sign the zoning plan Credit: TNC
Lower Right: Local communities participate in the Timai ceremony Credit: TNC