|
|
Bunaken National Park, Indonesia
Locator map
|
 |
Site map
Click on map for larger view
|
|
|
| Site Overview |
General description of site: Bunaken National Park (BNP) is a
 |
| Photo credit: Mark Erdmann |
marine protected area on the coast of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. It was declared a national park in 1991 based on its high conservation value and the global significance of its underwater geological structures, coral and mangrove diversity, fish diversity, abundance of rare species and its aesthetic and educational values. Prior to that, the area had been declared as a local and provincial protected area but there was no organized management authority in place to coordinate activities and enforce regulations in the park. A 25-year management plan was published in 1996 and a managing authority, including rangers, and limited funds were then provided by the national government to implement the management plan. There are over 30,000 villagers living in the 22 villages within the park and many more adjacent to the boundaries, most of whom depend largely on extracting natural resources from the park or nearby for their livelihoods.
Long standing management challenges at BNP include cultural conflicts and mistrust amongst local stakeholders and managers; damaging fishing and farming practices; rapid and poorly planned coastal development; unethical business and political practices; ineffective enforcement systems; and unorganized management strategies. In 2000, increasing demand from stakeholders for fair and accountable management lead to the development of a representative management advisory board to manage the newly established entrance-fee system and coordinate patrols as well as conservation and development activities in the park. Since the board's inception, management processes have become more transparent and participatory, management outputs have increased dramatically and positive outcomes from management are becoming clear to local communities.
Date of establishment: 1991
Area (Km2): 790
Size of site (S <= 20Km2; M = 20 - 2000Km2; L >= 2000Km2): Medium
Ecosystem type/main ecological features: Coral reef, mangrove, seagrass, deep coastal, seawall, trenches
 |
| Photo credit: Mark Erdmann |
Description of special resources; important ecological features; reason for establishing a protected area:
- diverse corals and coral reef fish communities (the main tourist attraction);
- diversity and abundance of mangroves (cultural values as well as ecological values);
- extensive seagrass beds supporting dugong and seaturtle populations; and,
- newly discovered group of resident coelacanths.
|
| Location Information |
Geographic coordinates (lat/long): 1 35'N; 12444'E
Nearest major city: Manado, North Sulawesi
Region: Tropical (in the center of marine biological diversity triangle)
|
| Goals and Accomplishments |
Goals and objectives of MPA:
- Conserve the outstanding biological diversity of the area
- Help to develop sustainable eco-tourism that benefit the local economy
- Improve the lifestyle of locals by helping them to sustainable manage their resources
Site accomplishments to date:
- Reduced stakeholder conflicts and increased cooperation through the establishment of a representative advisory board
- Implementation of new entrance-fee system
- Improved patrols now run jointly with locals, water police and rangers
- First round of funding grants to community development projects (from entrance-fee proceeds)
- Destructive fishing practices nearly eliminated
- Increases in coral cover and fish abundance throughout the park
|
| Site Management |
Management objective: Multiple
Type of management structure: Co-management
Challenges of site management:
- Conducting a zonation revision process
- Coordinating a joint patrol system
- Building the Capacity of and support for a new co-management system
- Fairly and strategically allocating the growing funds from the new entrance fee system
- Working with a cumbersome management plan
Does a management plan exist? Yes, but only a hardcopy from typewriter in Indonesian (no digital version).
Summary of main aspects of management plan: Not available. No summary exists.
Main stakeholders involved:
- Advisory board
- Management authority
- Rangers
- NRMP/EPIQ (USAID program)
- USAID
- WWF Wallacea
- Park residents
- Community forum
- Other local groups (fishers association, seaweed buyers; seaweed farmers; ornamental fish trade businesses)
- Dive operators (North Sulawesi Watersports Association member dive operators and nonmembers)
- Hotel operators (PATA Pacific Asia Travel Association; HPWLB Cottage owners association; charter boat association; travel agent association)
- Tourists
- Local environmental and community NGOs
- General North Sulawesi public
- Local governments, provincial government, and city government
|
|
Other Site Evaluations and Research
|
Description of any other site evaluations to date: Recent evaluation done on the advisory board focused on increasing their capacity to function effectively on-going monitoring of reef rehabilitation projects, routine manta tow surveys of coral cover and fish abundance.
Listing of current/recent research activities: No, does not exist, only scattered monitoring information. It is a popular area for research so difficult to keep track of efforts.
|
| Contact Information and Web Links |
Main Contact Information:
Nancy Dahl-Tacconi
Project Leader, MPA Evaluations
CIFOR, P.O. Box 6596 JKPWB
Jakarta 10065 Indonesia
Ph: 011 (62-251) 355552
Fax: 011 (62-251) 622100
e-mail: ntacconi@indo.net.id
Other Contact(s) Information:
Mr. Arief Toengkagie
Head BNP management authority
Mr. Maxi Wowiling
Program manager BNP advisory board
Dr. Mark Erdmann
MPA advisor, NRMP Manado office
Ms. Meity Mongdong
Community planning and participation officer, NRMP Manado office
Link to pilot site Web page or other related Web pages:
(top)
|
|
