Why Raja Ampat, Indonesia Is Winning At Ocean Conservation

Raja Ampat is an archipelago in Indonesia off the west coast of the Bird’s Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea. It is an area of unparalleled ocean life. And it’s also an example of how successful conservation depends on community involvement and action. Filmmakers and conservationists Shawn Heinrichs and John Weller traveled to Raja Ampat to produce, in conjunction with CI, the film “Guardians of Raja Ampat” and record the stories of communities reclaiming and protecting their marine treasures. They aim to use these stories to drive more conservation. But what has made these distant islands a good model for ocean conservation?

Raja Ampat is a one-of-a-kind destination!

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

This is a bucket list location for divers. Life is everywhere on the reef. Its bountiful oceans provide local people with food and livelihoods; they are also an ecotourism attraction.

Raja Ampat is in the global center of marine biodiversity.

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

There are six large marine protected areas (MPAs) in Raja Ampat, which is at the heart of the Coral Triangle. This is a region with more than 1,720 fish species and 600 hard corals, 75% of the planet’s corals.

Communities in Raja Ampat have been protecting the ocean … for centuries.

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

Informed by their intimate knowledge of the environment, the ancient practices of sasi laut (the taboos of the sea) led to all modern-day forms of conservation, from gear restrictions to closed seasons and off-limits areas. The Indonesian national law recognizes these traditional marine tenure systems.

The people want to be custodians of their ocean.

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

Since the early 1990s dynamite fishing, shark finning, cyanide fishing, turtle hunting and other destructive fishing practices have become major threats and sent critical regions of Raja Ampat into decline. To stop these kinds of activities, rights declarations by communities in Raja Ampat began in the north in 2006 and quickly spread throughout the region. These were recognized regionally the next year, officially creating MPAs.

Its people understand ocean resources are valuable.

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

A study done in Indonesia found that manta rays are worth more dead than alive. In fact, a living manta can bring in US$1 million in tourism revenue over the course of its lifetime. This was a major factor leading to the government of Indonesia banning all manta ray fishing – making the Indonesia’s near 6 million square kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ) the largest manta ray sanctuary in the world. Just under a year before the national ban was put in place, Raja Ampat had declared shark and ray sanctuaries throughout its entire territorial waters.

The power is with the people.

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org

CI, The Nature Conservancy and other NGOs built the capacity in the communities in Raja Ampat to run the patrols, teach best practices and continue outreach and education. For example, every man from the village of Wayag serves two weeks as a ranger every year to conserve these riches for future generations.

Guardians of Raja Ampat

Blue Sphere Media / Via vimeo.com

“The Guardians of Raja Ampat” is not yet available in the U.S., but the filmmakers have created a "mobile movie theater" to take on tour and show the finished film in the villages where they shot it.

#Winning!!!

Conservation International / Via blog.conservation.org