Komodo National Park

• Preparation of a zonation map of Komodo National Park (issue resolved)
• Population pressure
• Forest fires
• Poaching (deer)
• Coral blasting
• Fish poisoning
• Tourism pressures

The State Party had submitted a report on the state of conservation of the site using the format prescribed in the periodic reporting brochure and this report has been reviewed by IUCN. The State Party report notes that:

·       The 25-year Management Plan for the site was completed in June 2000.  The plan includes the expansion of the Park, to include an extension at Gili Banta and a connection to Gili Mota.  The proposed extensions will add 504 square kilometres to the area of the Park, 479 km of which will be marine habitat.  The new Park would therefore comprise 27% terrestrial and 73% marine areas.  The proposed extension is based on the high level of coral and fish diversity and associated aesthetic value, biological corridors, and the importance of areas for migration of cetaceans.

·       The plan also includes a new zoning system for the Park, dividing the Park into 7 zones covering both marine and terrestrial environments as follows: core zone; wilderness zone with limited tourism; tourism zone; traditional use zone; pelagic use zone; special research and training zone; and traditional settlement zone.  Regulations have been formulated for each zone.  A map of the Park is being completed and will be disseminated widely.

·       According to the ongoing coral reef and fish monitoring programme conducted by The Nature Conservancy of USA (TNC) and Park personnel, a slow recovery, i.e. 2% increase in hard coral per year, has been occurring around Komodo since 1996. Eight demersal fish spawning grounds have been identified within the park waters.  As a consequence the Park has applied regulations to prohibit demersal fish exploitation during the spawning season.

·       In the terrestrial sector, forest fires occur frequently, largely the result of human activities during the dry season.  Deer poaching has been a significant threat to the integrity of the Park, with poachers using fire to herd deer. Park patrols involve local police, navy and army personnel, as Park rangers are not equipped with firearms.

·       The report states that a floating boat patrol, equipped with communication systems to allow contact with Park headquarters, has been added to the law enforcement programme.  Overall, the incidences of dynamite and cyanide fishing and deer poaching have declined significantly with improved and intensified patrolling.

·       Park regulations prohibit anyone from entering the Park without a permit, except official local people practicing traditional fishing.  Despite this prohibition, illegal fishermen originating from other islands continues to be a significant issue.

TNC has been working on an innovative management scheme for the Park. This approach would involve TNC, the private tourism sector and the government of Indonesia in a partnership to establish sustainable financing for the Park.  IUCN has been playing a supportive role and providing some technical input, in co-operation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which is helping to support the project. The Indonesian Government formally wrote to the UNESCO Office in Jakarta, Indonesia, requesting UNESCO’s views on the joint TNC/Government of Indonesia/tourism sector initiative.  The establishment of the tourism concession is seen as a sustainable financing mechanism to be tested within the framework of the implementation of the 25-year Management Plan. 

IUCN has commended ongoing discussions on sustainable financing and collaborative management of the Park. UNESCO Office, Jakarta has also supported the establishment of the tourism management concession in principle but has stressed the need to closely monitor the work of the concession and all other projects designed to support the implementation of the 25-year Management Plan.