Zoning Model on Conservation in the Ecosystem Islands Southeast Aru

Abstract

Southeast Aru was a conservation area in Indonesia. This area was preserved based on the survey result of biophysical and socio-economical potentials. It signaled that this area must be retained because it had endemic resources that should be protected, including turtle, dugong, crocodile, and its ecosystem diversity. Some problems were found, such as (a) ineffective management of conservation area, (b) lack of planning for management and area zoning, and (c) less community empowerment in this area. Taking these into account, the objective of research was to develop a zoning model of islands ecosystem to give input for the management, government and community to be used in the preparation, determination and implementation of policy, program and activity of the management of Southeast Aru Conservation Area. Result of this current research indicated that: (1) islands ecosystem in Southeast Aru Conservation Area was important to be protected, while Enu Island and Karang Island were recognized as the core zone; (2) the ecosystems of Jeh, Mar, Jeudin, Marjinjin, and South Kultubai Islands were acknowledged as the utilization zone, especially their coastal eco-tourism sub-zone; and (3) the ecosystems of Jeh, Mar, Jeudin, Marjinjin, and South Kultubai Islands were, beside for tourism interest, also used as other zone, which was protective zone for these five islands, with Jeh Island and South Kultubai Island as rehabilitation zone.