Site Name and Geographic Coordinates
Name: Belitung Coral Reef Demonstration Site
Latitude: 3.36 S - 2.37 S
Longitude: 106.99 E - 108.89 E The proposed project is aimed to protect and to rehabilitate coral reef ecosystem so as to sustain their use, as well as the use of the associated ecosystems in Bangka-Belitung Islands. The overall goal of the program is to maintain healthy coral reef ecosystem and increase prosperity of coastal village
communities. This project will improve the condition of coral reefs at high priority areas through strengthened coordination among local government institutions in preparing "Perda" (local ordinance); and through community-based programs and public advocacy in coral reef conservation and sustainable use throughout the Bangka- Belitung province.
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES
The community of Selat Nasik sub-district is mainly engaged in fishery activities. Proportion of population engaged in fishery activities are 70 - 80 % in Selat Nasik, 50 % in Petaling, 75 % in Goal and 100 % in Gresik. These figures clearly indicate the importance of coral reefs to the people of Selat Nasik sub-district. Despite that, the coral reefs of the waters keep on going under real pressure. Coral reefs in the area are suffering pressures from poaching and destructive fishing practices. Trawling done by illegal foreign fishers causes damage to existing ecosystem and also results in
reducing the catch of traditional fishers. Because of that traditional fishers will undergo multiple losses, namely ecosystem degradation and reduction of income. To date this conflict between foreign and local fishers has still prevailed. Presently a few studies supported by the central government to monitor the condition of coral reefs have been done in this area. Some interventions have been implemented by the central government in order to promote marine tourism, coral reef conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
There is still the need for GEF to encourage and assist local communities to develop appropriate ways of protecting and managing their local marine resources as well as to strengthen the capacities of local government and non-government organizations in dealing with external issues. The Regional Autonomy Law (no. 22 of 1999) and the Spatial Use Act (no. 24 of 1992) provides the legal basis for the district government to plan and manage coral reefs. While the Regional Act and Revenue Sharing Act (no. 25 of 1999) give district governments responsibility for managing marine resources. The new laws provide for participatory decision making in planning and resource allocation. The capacity of local government and community institutions to execute their powers under these laws is very limited. Therefore support is needed to strengthen local community and district government in planning and management as well as in securing long-term health of coral reef resources and ensuring survival of coastal communities. The general objective of this project is to protect, rehabilitate and sustain the use of coral ecosystem and associate resources in the Belitung Island. To achieve these general objectives, the project has five intermediate objectives, namely:
Enhance awareness of society at all levels on the value of sustained use of coral reef; - Strengthen legal basis of coral reef management in Belitung;
- Improve information for decision making and planning of sustainable use of resources;
- Develop and implement resource management plan, involving community participation; and
- Establish livelihood programme in order to reduce threats by poor local people.
OUTCOMES Improvement of coral reef condition through increase of percentage coral cover will provide positive contribution in the form of increased catch for the fishers who in turn will increase local community income. Coral reef resources in Belitung district, particularly those in Selat Nasik sub-district, will be better managed whenever coral reef and resource management plans have been formulated. Likewise, law enforcement will be better executed whenever there is a regulation to base legal action on illegal and destructive fishing practices. No less important is the creation of young generation that has a high dedication to the environment. This project will support the process of strengthening co-ordination between all of stakeholder which concern in marine resource management, conservation and sustainable development. The project will achieve the outcomes as follows: - Increased community and students awareness in marine environment
- Increased capability and effectiveness in law enforcement
- Resource Management Plan adopted by Salat Nasik Sub-district
- Increased community capability to managing coastal and adjacent waters at Belitung District
- Increased percentage of coral cover
- Increased income per capita
- Strengthened Institutional co-ordination especially at Belitung District
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