Establishing an MPA Learning Site

BAckground

This MPA is a Learning Site situated off the southeast coast of Bali island (approx. 30 minutes by speedboat from the Balinese coast). It was established as an MPA in 2010 and covers an area of 20,057 hectares, managed under the District Government of Klungkung, Bali, Indonesia. The MPA is host to highly diverse coral ecosystems (with 298 species of coral and 576 species of reef fish, including five species previously unknown to science), and is home to marine mega fauna, including the mola mola (ocean sunfish) and manta rays. As a popular tourism destination the MPA receives approximately 200,000 visitors annually.

The Nusa Penida MPA surrounds not only the main large island of Nusa Penida, but also two smaller adjacent islands of Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan. The area has nearly 48,000 permanent residents who depend on fisheries, seaweed farming, and marine tourism as their main sources of income. The objective for Nusa Penida MPA is to protect the marine biodiversity of the area, support sustainable fisheries, marine tourism, and the welfare of local communities.

CTC has been supporting the development and management planning of the MPA since 2008, when the area was recognized as a critical area for marine biodiversity through a Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) that was conducted, and at a time when the area was identified as a site with a high livelihood dependency on marine resources. Through the commitment of the Klungkung District Government, with support from CTC and wider partners, the MPA has become renowned throughout the Coral Triangle region.

The development of the MPA as a Learning Site for wider practitioner training has been an organic process undertaken over several years. Through CTCs engagement in the MPA design, development and management processes, the range of lessons learned that are utilized for on-site training initiatives are taken from the early steps of establishing Nusa Penida as an MPA through to the experiences of current management actions and future planning. Such training supports others who are engaging in similar tasks across the region.

Since 2008, the CTC Nusa Penida Program has been supported by TNC-CTC, USAID ASIA, CTSP, MPAG, MAC, and Give2Asia.

nuSA PEnidA MPA

nusa Penida

Mola mola (Ocean sunfish), Nusa Penida © Marthen Welly/CTC

The Coral Triangle Center (CTC) recognizes the importance of developing and supporting Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that can serve as living laboratories to observe, learn, and gain from field experiences related to marine conservation, MPA establishment, and resource management. To this end MPA ‘Learning Sites’ are a core component of CTCs strategic framework.

These ‘Learning Sites’ are on-site training platforms for managers and practitioners, government officials, community groups, scientists, and NGOs to gain hands-on experience, and to enable learning exchanges among practitioners and between sites in the Coral Triangle and beyond. By connecting learning sites within countries and across the region, stakeholders can learn from a broad spectrum of MPAs with different ecological, economic, social, and geopolitical characteristics.

June 2014

Resource Monitoring Assessment at Nusa Penida MPA © Marthen Welly/CTC

ESTABLiSHing A MAnAgEMEnT uniT & Long-TErM MAnAgEMEnT PLAn

The head of Klungkung District established the Nusa Penida MPA Management Unit under a Head of District decree (No. 30/2012). This unit, responsible for overall management of the MPA, is under the district’s Office of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and is supported by a range of agencies, including a joint patrol team, biophysical monitoring experts, and a socio-economic monitoring team.

Through this unit the Nusa Penida MPA zoning plan and overall 20 year management plan was approved (under Bupati Klungkung letter No. 137/2013). The zoning system in the MPA consists of four zones with seven sub-zones. These are: core zone, traditional fisheries zone, marine tourism zone, sacred zone, special marine tourism zone, seaweed farming zone and harbor zone. Through this zoning system nearly 2,000 ha of the MPA is designated as ‘No Take’ (i.e. no extractive utilization is permitted).

To ensure MPA compliance, the Management Unit of Nusa Penida MPA has established a joint patrol team and resource use monitoring team. The joint patrol team consists of representatives from: Klungkung District government, traditional village police (Pecalang), fishermen groups, the Indonesian Navy, the Indonesian Police unit stationed in Nusa Penida, and associated NGOs and Community groups (CBOs). The joint patrol team has an agreed standard operating procedure (SOP) and conducts patrols on a monthly basis in and around the Nusa Penida MPA. In addition to these patrols, non-enforcement surveys (Resource Use Monitoring [RUM] studies) are also undertaken monthly, with the aim of gathering information on fisher and tourism boats operating in the park, and to assess the levels of user compliance with the MPAs Zoning system.

Establishment of Nusa Penida MPA: • 33communitymeetings• 1,200participants• 16villages

Establishment of Zoning System for Nusa Penida MPA: • 30stakeholdermeetings• allstakeholders• 16villages

The marine ecosystems of the MPA are surveyed annually to assess conservation results of management interventions, and to inform and support adaptive and responsive management processes. Surveys are also conducted every two years to assess community perceptions, levels of engagement and to capture any concerns and questions, with informal regular community meetings held between times to ensure continued stakeholder input and the sharing of information.

The numerous steps involved in designing and developing these various elements of MPA management have provided considerable lessons learned; and through the development of Nusa Penida MPA as a CTC Learning Site it is these lessons, systems, insights and experiences that can be shared with wider practitioners from across the Coral Triangle.

The complex structures of mangrove forests provide important nursery grounds for spawning and aggregation of many coastal and open-sea marine organisms. Mangroves also provide critical filters to manage land-based run-off that can be detrimental to reef systems, and provide a critical habitat for many bird species. Mangroves can also be a source for building materials and firewood, and produce components for highly valued food products, medicines, and natural textile coloring.

According to a survey conducted by CTC in 2011, tourists were increasingly interested to explore the protected mangrove forests in Nusa Lembongan, especially during the high season (between June and September). Such areas were shown to have the potential for ecotourism, for their beauty, uniqueness, and abundant biodiversity.

To support the development of community based mangrove ecotourism activities, CTC provided training to local community members on the basic principles of MPA management, and how to conduct surveys to identify mangrove species. A large area of the mangroves of Nusa Lembongan were zoned as protected within the Nusa Penida MPA, and support was provided to promote the ‘mangrove tour’ (including the development of posters, trekking maps, outreach materials and tree tagging).

During the high season months that were assessed, ~ 600 tourists joined the community based mangrove trips, with fees for renting a canoe and local guide costing IDR 70.000 (~ $7 USD). The program has provided a win-win opportunity for all concerned. The community are gaining an important extra income (in addition to their main income derived from seaweed farming), and the mangrove forests are being effectively protected as the communities have become more committed to protecting this biological asset. The commitment has been so great that through community interest the size of the protected mangrove area was even increased, from the original 202 ha to 230.7 ha, providing a clear success story for bottom-up engagement and support of MPA management.

dirEcT BEnEFiTS To coMMuniTiES

Mangrove Tour at Nusa Penida MPA © Edwin Shri Bimo/CTC

EcoTouriSM rEVEnuE FroM MAngroVE ForEST TourS

Local communities are gaining direct benefits from the protection of marine habitat and biodiversity being achieved through MPA implementation due to the increased revenue generated by tourism arrivals. Not only are the local lodges and homestays benefitting from increased occupancy, and local dive operators in both Bali and the Penida islands gaining increased revenue, but also wider local businesses are benefiting from the increased demands for a range of local goods and services required to accommodate tourism activities.

Divers from around the world come to Nusa Penida to see the Mola-mola (Ocean Sunfish), enjoy reliable Manta ray sightings, and experience the island’s abundance of coral reefs. Therefore the effective management and conservation of these habitats and associated species is critical to the local economy of the area and the livelihoods of many of the local residents.

Ensuring benefit streams are developed for local communities (wherever possible) in connection to MPA design and development, is a critical step in building the foundation for a sustainable future. With the Nusa Penida MPA being established as a Learning Site, the processes experienced in community engagement and benefit stream maximizations provide considerable lessons learned for sharing and training wider MPA practitioners from across the region.

MArinE EcoTouriSM

“Villagershavebeenhappytoseescienceandtraditioncombinedforeffectivezoningandresourceuse,”

Wayan Supartawan,Traditional Leader

Divers at Nusa Penida MPA ©/CTC

Nusa Penida MPA has become an excellent learning platform for training and field visits for national and international government representatives, donors, and practitioners from a variety of organizations, due in part to its location, size, theme of community-based ecotourism, and its progressive stages of development as an MPA. Following the early realization of Nusa Penida’s value as a Learning Site a focused attempt has been made to develop the skills of the people and materials on site to deliver targeted and responsive training to meet practitioners’ needs from across the region.

CTC is now replicating this process in other areas of the Coral Triangle. Through site-based training events and exchanges, practitioners can learn in-situ about MPA planning and management processes. Learning institutions in marine conservation throughout the region can benefit from field exchanges, internships, and on-site study experiences on a variety of topics.

ESTABLiSHing And oPErATing An MPA LEArning SiTE

oPErATionALizATion• CTC staff and key stakeholder representatives have prepared

practical sources of information, including study packs and informal scripted talks on a range of learning themes. Visits to the site are tailored to the audiences’ key interest areas, and materials are drawn as required from an ever growing central library of materials, both on site and at the CTC offices in Sanur, Bali.

• Locations within the MPA for on-site training are determined based on focus topics being addressed, and include: underwater sites of interest (for qualified scuba diving participants, and/or experienced snorkelers only), the mangrove areas, seaweed farming sites, areas where coral transplantation activities are taking place, as well as the community center situated within the MPA and sites of high tourism activity. On-site training can be, and often is, complimented by pre, and/or post training held at the CTC offices in Bali, depending on the focus topic of interest.

• A small fee or in-kind contribution is requested by the site for program development and maintenance. Pre and post-visit planning and review sessions are conducted to prepare for the number, level of knowledge and interest, time available, and logistics for each visit, and lessons learned from site visits are documented to help improve the learning experience over time.

Since 2008, the CTC Nusa Penida Program has been supported by The Nature Conservancy, USAID ASIA, The Coral Triangle Support Partnership (CTSP), Margaret A Cargill Foundation (MAC), Marine Protected Area Governance program (USAID-MPAG), and Give2Asia.

AcknoWLEdgEMEnT

For more information please contact:Marthen Welly Learning Sites Manager

The Coral Triangle CenterJl. Danau Tamblingan No. 78, Sanur, Bali 80228, Indonesia

t. / f. +62 361 289 338info@coraltrianglecenter.orgwww.coraltrianglecenter.orgFacebook: Coral Triangle CenterTwitter: @coralAcenter

Discussion with Nusa Penida community © Marthen Welly/CTC

TiMELinE And nExT STEPS2008 TNC invited by Klungkung District Government to support development of Nusa Penida MPA. Baseline data gathered and preliminary socialization undertaken with communities regarding the establishment of an MPA.

2009 Nusa Penida Task Force established. Stakeholders engaged and supportive. Community center established. Mangrove seed bank and rehabilitation program initiated. Coral rehabilitation program initiated. Ecological monitoring protocol for MPA developed, and annual surveying system established.

2010Klungkung District Government formalize establishment of Nusa Penida MPA through District Executive Decree No.12/2010 with a total area of 20,057 hectares. CTC replaces TNC in facilitating the Nusa Penida MPA establishment process.

2011Zoning plan design is undertaken and finalized with support and engagement of key stakeholders. Draft structure of the future Management Unit for the MPA is developed. Willingness to pay (WTP) study is undertaken to inform and guide future sustainable financing design for MPA. Monthly Resource Use Monitoring (RUM) surveys are initiated.

2012Management Unit for Nusa Penida MPA is established. District regulations are drafted and submitted to district parliament for review and approval in relation to a tourism entrance fee system for the MPA as a mechanism for sustainable financing. 20 year management plan is finalized and published.

2013Nusa Penida MPA team completes and submits all documents and requirements for declaration of the MPA at the higher Ministerial level. Management Unit is formalized through District decree (30/2013). Management plan is endorsed by District decree (137/2013). Planned sustainable financing system is endorsed by District decree (3/2013). Nusa Penida is awarded for MPA management effectiveness by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and announces Nusa Penida as a ‘Blue Economy’ site.

2014In March 2014, Nusa Penida MPA obtained national recognition from MMAF, under a Ministerial Decree 24/2014, and declared in June 2014 during Nusa Penida Festival and Coral Triangle DayHard Corals in the Nusa Penida MPA © Marthen Welly/CTC