Dugong Threatened to Extinct, FPIK IPB Helps Hold Comparative Study for Tourism Development in Toli-Toli
The rise of Dugong hunting in Toli-Toli District, Central Sulawesi has created the Directorate of Marine Biodiversity Conservation (KKHL) as an executing agency in collaboration with the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University (FPIK-IPB), LIPI Oceanography Research Center (P2O LIPI) and World Wide Indonesia Fund (WWF) is making efforts to conserve dugongs and lunun habitats in Indonesia. This conservation effort is called the Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project (DSCP-Indonesia) which was initiated by the United Nation Environment Program-Conservation Migratory Species (UNEP-CMS).
The incentive program in Toli-Toli District focused on two development programs, namely the development of fish processing businesses and the development of marine ecotourism. The fish processing business development activity was carried out at the beginning of November-December 2018 which was held by FPIK IPB in Toli-Toli District.
The next step in DSCP activities is the development of maritime ecotourism, namely conducting comparative study activities. This activity sent representatives of the community or tourism managers and the local government of Toli-Toli Regency to Pramuka Island and Harapan Island, Seribu Islands Administrative District, DKI Jakarta (7-12 / 02).
“The comparative study aims to improve the knowledge of village tourism managers so that they can be duplicated for village development. Thousand Islands was chosen as a place of comparative study because it was very exotic. The people there are also good, there are those who want to do sustainable environmental conservation and so on, “said M. Fedi A. Sondita as one of the speakers in the comparative study and Vice Director for Network & Communication Embryo, FPIK-IPB.
Comparative studies are conducted to meet the gaps in information and experience from each activity organizer so that they can have a comprehensive picture of tourism, supervision, and synergy between the community, local government, and conservation area management.
“There are a number of outputs expected from this comparative study activity, where participants get an overview of community-based conservation activities and the development of natural resource potential which is the object of ecotourism, knowing the important components of developing village ecotourism-based tourism, learning from conservation area management on the island “Scouts and Hope Island, as well as arranging follow-up plans in comparative study activities,” said Fedi.
The comparative study activity is divided into three parts, namely class, practice and discussion. Class material aims to provide knowledge related to ecotourism programs namely tourism that is environmentally sound by prioritizing aspects of nature conservation, aspects of socio-cultural empowerment, the economy of local communities, as well as aspects of learning and education. The material was continued by direct practice by the participants.
Furthermore, the discussion material was directed in the form of case studies. Participants are encouraged to be able to design the preparation of follow-up plans in an effort to protect and preserve natural resources (SDA), ecotourism management, waste management, and product development efforts from the incentive activities previously given.
“We have three assisted villages in Toli-Toli, namely the villages of Malala, Ogotua and Santigi. Each village has the potential and is now developing its business. So, we are here to help them. We provide comparative studies so that they can find out how to develop good tourism and existing institutions. we also give a picture of conservation, “said Aflaha Abdul Munib, Site Manager of Tolitoli, FPIK IPB.
The event also presented several speakers, namely Sukendi, a representative from the Directorate of Marine Conservation and Biodiversity-KKP, Adriani as Deputy Chairperson of DSCP Dugong and Seagrass CoE IPB, Fery Kurniawan and M. Nur Arkham from the Center for Resource, Coastal and Oceanic Studies (PKSPL) Bogor (PKSPL-IPB), Syahrul as the local tour guide, and Mahariyah as the Activist of Community Based Conservation Counseling Center. (Jhn)
